Ego.one
Sentient pen revolution
Client
Academic
Year
2022- 23
Category
Speculative Design
Type of Work
Design Research,
Product Design
Duration
12 Weeks
Man is the metre of all things, the hand is the instrument of instruments, and the mind is the form of all forms. - Aristotle
In the year of 2035, where the art of handwriting has almost faded into oblivion, a remarkable pen named 'Ego' is designed. Contrary to its simple name, Ego is no ordinary writing tool; it is a sentient device that seemed to understand its user on a profound level.
Ego.one is the very first version of an all-new input tool, a lot similar form-wise to pens, which were in use in earlier times in the century, and handwriting is the mode of interaction. ego is also about bringing back the embodiment of writing in humankind to aid the transformation of ideas through written communication rather than being a tool to translate, it is extending its role to revolutionize the existing digital interaction modalities.
Aiding to build penmanship independent of media Ego.one grows its own consciousness. It understands the context and content - like a robot with an embedded simulation of itself and its currently perceived environment. Ego.one if technically dissected, can be understood as a combination of sensors, processors, and actuators understanding the context and content to make precise decisions with the always upgrading consciousness.
The tip is a combination of soft robotic bristles capable of sensing the pressure, type of writing surface, and the content with the movement. The soft grip which takes shape according to the user’s finger grip encapsulates all the essential sensors for evaluating the physical and mental state of the writer.
The way Ego.one adjusts its grip when it is active in the writer’s hand
Ego.one adopts the best-suited tip shape by adjusting the bristle formation.
The pen body is a processing and networking unit that brings meaning with all the sensed data and decides the actuator making the most desirable outcomes as the writer may intend.
In a severely interconnected world of 2035, it is easy for a self-simulating computing model to understand a person and grow a shared consciousness, especially when writing with hand is also explored as a way of having dialogues with the device itself when voice commands had taken over screen gestures.
A writing tool like ego facilitates locating the visual attention closer to the location of the input, in ego’s case, the visual feedback is shared with the system through the sensors simultaneously when the writer receives the feedback through vision. Being aware of the environment every time through all the possible context data available, from the geographical location to the surface the writer is about to write or the color of ink preferred matching to the content of the existing text, ego can pre-decide the writer’s settings as the result of the shared consciousness with utmost accuracy.
The subtle balance shift of Ego.one eventually becomes the way the pen and the writer have that innermost conversation.
As ego understands the writer not only through the environment but also through the content, the grip, one of the actuators, is capable of nudging the writer through shifting the weight of the pen and hence altering the balance to simulate a forward or backward motion. The subtle balance shift eventually becomes the way the pen and the writer have that innermost conversation during the creative process of writing; at times certain disagreements and encouragements - the meanings and intensity of the behavior can grow between them. ego’s other actuator, the bristle tip can shift the shape to varied forms, and control the ink trace and color according to the content needs - to denote a possible error - and the context. The shared consciousness extends the ability of ego to call for actions beyond being a writing tool based on the interaction between the writer and the pen. The combination of the context and content makes these decisions rather meaningful.
As ego transforms the interaction modality, handwriting becomes the primary mode and the universal tool that connects writers’ inputs to the right target in the right format, may it be a reply to a message written on a table, an entry to your personal diary, or an appreciation for the great drink - just keep writing and rest assured by ego’s shared consciousness with the writer.
Interaction techniques are constantly evolving, complying with technological advancements and changing mediums.
Artificial intelligence-like additions are also embedded commonly still, the inputs are best done through hands, visual and proprioceptive skills and tactile information put together. Handwriting at the very beginning enables memorizing the graphic form of every letter, a chain of isolated motor inputs, and transforms into a kinetic melody, where you probe your working memory for transcription of texts or ideas. Lesser the cognitive load, the better the processing of executive functions on the working memory. A tool that can bridge the gaps, enabling writing as a universal way of input to all the digital and physical mediums is what ego will do. Adequate reading and writing define components of literacy, hence Ego.one might create a world of more intellectual minds and major changes in the way user interactions in products are designed - a much essential socio-cultural and technological revamp.