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The most crucial distinction where paper wins is that writing is a "nonlinear" process whereas typing with the tools we have today is "linear". You could use so
by ssivark 12y ago
The most crucial distinction where paper wins is that writing is a "nonlinear" process whereas typing with the tools we have today is "linear". You could use something like a mindmapping tool, but you're again constrained to a fairly rigid format rather than giving you the ease of switching. Eg: you can write down a bunch of things and draw arrows between them. Or draw a graph/sketch. Or draw a link between the thing you had on the first line and something related that came up towards the end of the page, etc. To me, that means that thinking on paper is much more free than typing, and one has available a space of a larger dimensionality, to represent one's ideas.
However fast one can type, the rigidity of typing is the biggest obstacle, imho. I do not think speed of typing-vs-writing ought to be a significant factor; I can think while I write, but not while I type (but that may be because I've written a lot, over decades, as a student growing up in India -- and nowhere near as much typing).
I've tried typing(laptop, phone, tablet), writing on a convertible tablet (Lenovo X230T and Xournal/linux) and paper is still the most usable, by far. Once I have something worked out on paper, I transfer the notes to the computer for storage -- either typed-up using markdown/Pandoc (since I use a lot of LaTeX math) or handwritten. Of late, I also occasionally use Google Keep for jotting down small things.
- pbhjpbhj 12y ago>I can think while I write, but not while I type // To me handwriting is more rigid in that one can't rearrange thoughts without drawing big arrows and having lots of crossings out. But then I only type and don't hand-write so perhaps I've lost track of what I'm missing out on. Do you touch type? I don't by the strictest definition but I don't look at the keyboard and can have a conversation whilst typing - I'm not even sure any more if I can hand-write and think on an alternate topic, but I can type as I internally oralise thoughts without having to consider the physical movement. I'm sure this is true for most people who can type without looking. Whenever I'm thinking about something with visual creative elements or anything with maths/equations then I'll use pencil and paper but as my working life has moved away from that, except in doing pure sketches without text, then it's quite rare for me to sit down with a pad. I've just finished doing a python course and it's the first time I've listened to lectures and not used pad & pencil for note taking, instead just using PyCharm and a python console for "notes" and "doodles".
- niels_olson 12y agoI did a survey of my classmates' study habits in medical school. Two of the habits most strongly associated with good performance were taking hand-written notes and reviewing them. The worst habit was typing in class. I heard Clay Shirky has even banned screens in his lectures because he found a "second hand smoking" effect: the person next to the person with the laptop had poorer performance. I think a major part of handwritten notes is that it does force you to select what you're actually going to write down, and that is an inherently synthetic activity. Synthetic activities lead to more effective memory formation.
- sumo 12y agoAbsolutely. Non-linear processes I think, is a crucial difference, your mind jumps around thoughts, perhaps even in parallel and so having a medium that lets you do that is important. It feels more natural, more free-form. Interestingly, presenting and sharing your ideas should be done in a non linear way too. People like to drive their own learning and understanding; so when you share your idea with others you want to be able to: jump around, accept feedback and engage with their thought patterns, that are in fact non-linear.