Dan Bricklin @danb@qoto.org

Today's NYTimes #Connections game is very close to my heart. In addition to having the word spreadsheet, another group had one that caught my attention. :)

For those of you who are interested in talks I've given, with VisiCalc history as well as my philosophies about technology evolution, I think the fullest online is from the Business of Software conference in 2010. My talk is: https://businessofsoftware.wistia.com/medias/2zbuz8a6da?embedType=async&videoFoam=true&videoWidth=640 (Transcript, etc.: https://businessofsoftware.org/2011/08/dan-bricklin-at-business-of-software-2010-there-is-always-new-technology-when-should-we-care-how-do-we-take-advantage-of-it-video-transcript/)

I'm very sad to hear of the passing of Gordon Bell, a giant in the history of computers in the last 60 years. From his leading work at Digital Equipment Corporation to the NSF and Microsoft, he has been an inspiration to us all. He was also, from my experience (our paths crossed many times), an enthusiastic, fun, and warm person. On his Microsoft Research Web Site https://gordonbell.azurewebsites.net/ , he included a photo I took of him on a Segway. Here's a copy. May his memory be a blessing!

@kaplag @stroughtonsmith Apple apparently has been doing lots of work related to pencils and #VisionPro. See some of the patents: https://www.patentlyapple.com/patently-apple/patents-smart-pens/ There's cameras-in-pencil, moving in the air, game controls, and more.

@kaplag @stroughtonsmith I love writing on an iPad, too (cf my NoteTakerHD iPad app from 2010) and have lots of tablet/pen experience from the 1990’s including pen/tablet/spreadsheet and other areas patents. But the VisionPro opens other avenues but lacks a rich fine-motor input means.

@stroughtonsmith Now, imagine that pen in your hand over or on an iPad (perhaps on Magic Keyboard as an easel) as you look straight ahead with #VisionPro. Squeeze, rotate, haptics, hover.

Another #aurora photo from Newton, MA USA iPhone 15 Pro handheld. Amazing how sharp the stars are.

Cold Spring Park, Newton, MA USA 10:44pm iPhone 15 Pro.

Note: For those who don't know my full background, I co-founded a company called Slate in the early 1990's that made apps for early "pen computers". I even hold some patents for our work on a spreadsheet with special gestures and handwriting recognition. On the iPad, I personally wrote one of the very early notetaking apps (NoteTakerHD).

Reading some comments, I think I wasn't clear enough about the role of the iPad. I was assuming the pen would normally manipulate things you see elsewhere, not under it. Like a mouse. The iPad could add context, but especially to add electronics and computing power to interact with the pen, and an appropriate surface on which to move the pen.

@helge Yes, I don't think a great OLED display is needed. Yes, like the Mac. I was thinking more of having the thing you are manipulating being not below the pen but elsewhere. Like a mouse on the desk and the screen vertical in front of you. I guess I wasn't clear enough.

@helge I wasn't thinking of the iPad just for an image. Yes, the AvP can do that, and probably would to some extent. Their pencil, though, is tuned to writing on their screen and may need some electronics and processing there. (AI for good tracking?)

@kaplag Just on a plain surface could be interesting. I think the iPad helps with precise positioning (more than 150 dpi at 100 or more samples per second helps for a pen as I recall from my pen-computing days), charging, more computation, and an image under your hand. Not sure what support the pencil requires of the surface under it. (Remember the Wacom, etc., from the 1990's and later - it's been a long time since I was last in the precise pen world.) This is not gross motions but rather light feathering or more. Of course, Apple doesn't always seem that concerned with cost of a pro accessory.