From ergonomic stylus concepts to 3D pens, these high-tech writing utensils will transform the way you take notes. As many people abandon pen and paper for their digital devices, traditional writing utensils have largely been left behind. These high-tech devices demonstrate that the humble pen is due for a modern make-over.
One of the most interesting ways that designers have transformed our writing utensils is by making them more accessible. Beyond simply fashioning a more ergonomic stylus, designers have created pens that help those with physical challenges. For example, there are tremor-proof pens for those who suffer from Parkinson's disease, as well as oral writing implements for children with physical impairments.
Beyond a more accessible design, the conventional pen has also been infused with high-tech features. There are a number of different 3D pens that help users design multidimensional creations. There are also hybrid writing utensils that allows users to seamlessly switch from ink to paint.
54 High-Tech Writing Utensils
From Circular Stylus Concepts to Ultraviolet 3D Pens:
Katherine Pendrill — Aug 21, 2015 — Art & Design
54
Ballpoint Pen Printers
The Pen Printer Makes Use of Discarded Writing Implements for Ink
53
3D-Printing Pens
The 3DSimo Mini Facilitates the Manual Fabrication of Three-Dimensional Creations
52
Handy Screwdriver Pens
The Mininch was Inspired by the Pencil for Portable On-the-Go Functionality
51
Fabric-Mending Pens
The Fabric Pen Repairs Clothes Without Sewing
50
Sculptural Inkless Pens
The Pininfarina Cambiano Inkless Pen Features a Beautiful Design Aesthetic
49
Fire-Starting Pens
The Endure Survival Pen Can Start Fires and Shoot Flares
48
Transformable Toy Pens
These Transformers Pens are More Than Meets the Eye
47
Magical Manipulating Pens
The Chartpak Blender Pen Lets You Transfer Pictures to Other Surfaces
46
Digital Drafting Pens
Pencil by FiftyThree is the Perfect Companion to the Paper app
45
Multi-Tool Styluses
The Monteverde One Touch Stylus Tool Pen is Digital and Analog
44
Doodle-Digitizing Pens
The Neo Smartpen N2 Takes Your Scribbles and Doodles Digital
43
Auto Ink-Adjusting Pens
The Pluma Pen Prototype Dreams of an Automated Multi-Colored Pen
42
Luxurious Fashion House Pens
Hermes and Marc Newson Collaborate to Make the 'Nautilus'
41
Phone-Charging Pens
The Power Pen Works As a Pen, Stylus and Backup Phone Battery
40
Latte Art Pens
CinniBird Lets People Design Drinks and Dishes with Spices
39
Plastic-Emitting 3D Pens
The 3Doodler 2.0 Made An Appearance at CES 2015
38
Handheld Acupuncture Pens
The Bennoti Acu-Pen Brings Pain Relief to the Palm of Your Hand
37
High-Powered Defensive Pens
This Impromptu Tactical Pen Has the Ability to Penetrate a Window
36
Customized Multipurpose Highlighters
These Highlighter Pens Have Three Different Marking Uses
35
Personalized Handwriting Robots
Bond's Calligraphy Service Offers Automated Note & Letter Writing
34
Paintbrush Pen Hybrid Tools
This Paint Pen Makes the Job Easier and More Effective
33
Size-Adjusting Pens
The Takumi Writing Utensil Designs Have an Adjusting Length Size
32
Modern Smartphone Pens
Samsung's 'S Pen' Lets You Scribble and Draw on Your Screen
31
Child-Safe 3D Pens
The Polyes Q1 is the First Child-Safe 3D Sketching Pen
30
Reverse-Functioning Pens
The EDCpen Functions Upside Down, Under Water and In Space
29
Butt-Kicking Pens
The Nunchuck Pens are an Unexpected Form of Ninja Tools
28
3D Printing Pens
This Amazing Pen is Able to Draw and Print Objects Instantaneously in 3D
27
Analog-to-Digital Pens
Write On Paper then Edit on Your Computer with the Equil Jot Pen
26
Handheld Digital Drawing Tools
The Scriba is an Ink-Free Drawing Aid Used to Draw & Sketch Online
25
Lightweight 3D Printing Pens
The Lix 3D Printing Pen Lets You Create 3D Plastic Doodles
24
Tremor-Proof Pens
Writing with Parkinson's is Made More Comfortable with This Vibrating Implement
23
Conducive Ballpoint Pens
'Circuit Scribe' Lets You Make Circuits Just By Doodling On Paper
22
Futuristic Audio Ink Pens
The HP Vision Pens Puts a Whole New Medium in the Hands of Techies
21
3D Retouching Pens
Retouch3D Uses Heat to Melt Away Imperfections On 3D-Printed Objects
20
Dislocating Minimalist Pens
Align by Beyond Object Reinterprets the Traditional Writing Tool
19
Fire-Starting Writing Tools
Smith & Wesson's Fire-Starting Pen is a Must-Have in the Wilderness
18
Electrifying Paint Pens
This Electric Paint Pen Produces Real Electrically Conductive Paint
17
Oscillating Upright Implements
This Balance Pen Maintains a Perpendicular Posture Upon Your Desk
16
Ballpoint Tablet Pens
This Bic Pen Stylus Can Write on Touchscreens as Well as Paper
15
Highlighting Calligraphy Pens
This Highlighter Pen is Inspired by Traditional Writing Techniques
14
Custom Counterbalancing Pens
CB + P by Bobby Davis Does Not Follow a One-Size-Fits-All Model
13
Ergonomic Writing Utensils
This Modern Stylus Fits the Natural Curves of Your Hand
12
Ultraviolet 3D Pens
The Creopop 3D Pen Uses Ink That Solidifies When Exposed to Ultraviolet Light
11
Wine-Infused Pens
The WINKpen uses Wine, Beer and Coffee Instead of Ink
10
Bulletproof Pens
The Cold Steel Shark Tactical Marker is a Super Durable Permanent Pen
9
Oral Writing Implements
The Plant Pen Set Enables Disabled Children to Write with Their Mouths
8
Parkinson's-Assisting Pens
The ARC Pen Vibrates To Make Writing Easier For Parkinson's Patients
7
Adjustable Whiteout Pens
The Modi-Roller Has a Width Adjuster to Cover All Sizes of Written Text
6
Stainless Steel Pocket Pens
The Move Mini Bolt Action Carrying Pen is Lightweight and Compact
5
Reality-Checking Pens
This Inception-Inspired Top Pen Lid will Keep You in Touch with Reality
4
Space-Inspired Drafting Pens
The Apollo Technical Pen and Drafting Scale Has Style and Precision
3
Circular Concept Styli
This Grip Pen is Designed To Give a More Ergonomic Hold While Writing
2
Versatile Electronic Pens
The Mimoto SmartPen Allows Consumers to Write the Old-Fashioned Way
1
Customized Mechanical Fountain Pens
The Ink is a Unique Machined Fountain Rollerball Pen
Related Ideas
Rapidly Retractable Multi-Tools
The 'Retractable EDC Tool' Lets You Access Your Tools In Style
Leather-Bound Connected Notebooks
Side Note Boasts a MagSafe-Compatible Design for Added Ease
Multi-Functional EDC Tool Pens
The Mantis Pen by 3 Peters is an Excellent On-the-Go Companion
Hybrid Low-Power Smartwatches
The Conceptual 'Ksana' Hybrid Smartwatch has an E Ink Display
See-Through Mobile Typewriters
The Freewrite Traveler Ghost Edition Has a Crystalline Finish
Empowering Walking Sticks
18 Designers Conceptualized Walking Sticks for the Future Selves
Malleable Stress Relief Mouses
The Conceptual 'Vent' Wireless Mouse Has a Soft Silicone Exterior
Ceremonious Writing Utensils
The Aestus Signature Pen by Rahil Hasan Comes with a Dock
Freestanding Vertical Desk Designs
The Conceptual 'Workstick' by Alp Çakın is Space-Saving
Long-Lasting Compact Pens
The NanoInk From InnoZoom Outlasts 100 Regular Pencils
Ultra-Thin E-Note Tablets
The Onyx Boox Go 10.3 Works with a Stylus or Through Touch
Modular AI-Powered Mouses
The Conceptual 'OctoAssist' Mouse Has a Multipurpose Form
Self-Stabilizing Mouse Designs
The 'ST[ILT]' Mouse by Monica Bhyrappa Supports Users with Tremors
Text Transformation Tools
The Stylish Font Generator Adds Style and Creativity to Text
AI-Fuelled Ballpoint Pens
The XNote is a ChatGPT-Enhanced Pen for Digital Drawings
Minimalist Paper-Like Tablets
The ReMarkable Paper Pro is a Stripped-Down Tablet for Productivity
Inspiring Back-to-School Campaigns
BIC Partners with GRAMMY-Nominated Artist Charlie Puth
Fashion-Forward Gadgets
This Open-Ear Earbud Concept Serves as a Functional Accessory
Notepad-Replacing E Ink Tablets
The PocketBook InkPad X Pro Comes with a Wacom Stylus
Ergonomic Instant Noodle Forks
Nendo x Nissin The Fork Supports Easy Eating of Instant Noodles
Health-Conscious Mouse Designs
The 'Ergo' Ergonomic Mouse Concept by Pranav Kuber is Advanced
Lifelike Writing Utensil Styluses
The Apple Pencil Pro Has the Barrel Roll Gyroscope Feature
Telescoping Component Kitchen Appliances
The Hybrid Kitchen Aid by Rishikesh Sonawane is Intuitive
Tech-Equipped Classroom Lecterns
This Smart Lectern from the TZEN Studio is Sleek and Stylish
Standard Pencil-Inspired Stylus
Colorware Unveils the Limited Apple Number 2 Pencil
Progressive Rewritable Tattoos
Keith McCurdy Presents the Magic Ink Tattoo Innovation
Sleek Compact Keyboard Designs
The Fusion Keyboard 2.0 is Sophisticated and Practical
Pen-Enabled E-Readers
The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition Uses Color E Ink Technology
Redesigned Mechanical Computer Mouse
The Gime Mouse Concept Reuses Old Keyboard Parts
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Tactile Vehicle Key Fobs
This Conceptual Car Key Fob by Zander De Beer is Ergonomic
Notebook-Equipped Smartphone Accessories
The MOFT Snap Flow Keeps Pen, Paper and More on Hand
Enhanced Tablet Designs
Huawei is Set to Introduce a New MatePad Pro Series Tablet
Ergonomic Rolling Ball Mice
Logitech Released Two New Mice Designed for Office Comfort
Steampunk Multifunctional Computer Mouse
Tride Design Creates the Sleek D Mouse Device
Wearable Gesture-Based Mouses
The 'Clip Mouse' is Portable, Lightweight and Works on Any Surface
Performance-Driven Ergonomic Office Chairs
Stan Deng's Newtral Magich Chair is Ultra-Adaptable
Hybrid Professional Laptop Accessories
The Orbitkey Hybrid Work Duo Maximizes Organization
Bit-Bearing Multitool Pens
The Second-Generation 'Tool Pen' Promises Streamlined Bit Access
3D-Printed E Ink Typewriters
Vincente Cruz Designs the Tapico Typer with a Minimal Look
External OLED Pen Displays
Wacom Unveiled its Highest-Spec 13" Pen Display to Date
Sleek Smartphone Stylus
The Moto G Stylus 5G Features Upgraded Sensitivity and Software
Digital E Ink Typwriters
The Zerowriter Ink Offers a Week of Battery Life
Ultra-Portable Desk Designs
The PUNCUBE Portable Desk Design Works with Any Laptop
Minimalist Clutter-Free Desk Designs
The Parallel Work Table by Eldho T Jai Enhances Productivity
Elegantly Modernized Fountain Pens
The TaG Submarine Collection Pens Come in Two Options
Nail-Friendly Keyboard Covers
'Tippy Type' Enables Easier Typing with Long Nails
T-Shaped Remote Controls
The Sightless Remote Control by Gisung Han is Hard to Misplace
Folded Mouse Design Concepts
NAK Studio Presents the Portable Folded Mouse Concept
Ergonomic Arc-Shaped Mouses
The ProtoArc EM11 Boasts RGB Lighting for a Digital Appearance
Minimal Desk Accessories Concepts
The DESKRISK Series Organizes the Working Space
AI-Enabled E Ink Tablet
Viwoods AiPaper Provides an Advanced Paper-Like Experience
Infinitely Refillable Writing Pens
The Wren by Tom's Studio Has an Aluminum Body & Replaceable Tip
Digital Note-Taking Tablets
Onyx International Releases a Cheaper Monochrome E-Paper Tablet Option
Angled Productivity PC Mouses
The Hansker Vertical Mouse Comes in Two Versions
Modular EDC Writing Utensils
The RocketInk Titanium Pocket Pen Weighs in at 0.7-Ounces
Speech-to-Text Assistive Pens
The World Literacy Foundation Creates the Literacy Pen
Industrial Handheld Printer Units
The 'Scribe' Handheld Printer by John Branca is All-in-One
Wrist-Supportive Mouse Pads
Wonjun Jo Designs the New Curble Mouse Pad with Ergonomic Support
Polluted Air-Created Pencils
Wunderman Thompson & Otrivin Create the Pollution Capture Pencils
Eco-Friendly Pencils
Sprout World Launches Eco-Friendly Plantable Pencils
Digital Creative Tablet Models
The LincStudio S1 Creator Tablet Has a 2K Touchscreen and More
Sleek Nail Polish Pens
VYL-01 Has Introduced a Nail Pen for Easier Application
Textbook-Sized eReaders
The Onyx Boox Note Air3 Comes with a Stylus for Productivity
Ocular Support Smartphones
The TCL 40 NXTPAPER is a CES 2024 Innovation Optimized for Human Eyes
Japanese Bento-Inspired Stationery
NOOE's Bento Jot Offers an Efficient Storage Solution
Sensibly Sharp Elevated Knives
Grovemade Presents a New Task Knife with Improvements
Sticky Note Printers
Mangoslab's Nemonic Gen 2 Brings Memo Making to a New Generation
Distraction-Free Keyboard-ConnectedTools
The BYOK Device is Designed to Foster Productivity
Retro 3D-Printed Bags
Coperni's CD-PLAYER Swipe Bag Resembles a Portable Music Player
Coffee-Inspired Pens
The Sheaffer Coffee Edition Celebrates the Pairing of Coffee & Writing
Ergonomic Quality Computer Mice
The 'ProPoint' from Swiftpoint Incorporates a Quality Sensor
Dexterity-Aiding Toothbrush Add-Ons
Landor & Fitch Designs the Accessories Handles
Digital Ink Pens
The Colorpik Pen Scans and Replicates Millions of Colors
Easily Customizable Laptops
Lenovo's New Laptop Features an E-Ink Display
Industrial Folding Mouse Designs
The Conceptual Emergency Foldable Mouse is Angular
Shapeshifting Ergonomic Keyboards
The Goldtouch Elite Adjustable Ergonomic Keyboard is Comfortable
Ergonomic Magnetic Component Keyboards
The Nuio Flow Keyboard Elevates Typing Comfort
Book-Shaped Transparent Bookmarks
TENT Unveils the Uniquely Shaped Book on Book Bookmark
Distraction-Free Digital Keyboards
The Micro Journal is a Convenient Whimsical Writing Device
Ergonomic Worker-Friendly Keyboards
Logitech Unveils the Ergonomic 'Wave Keys' Keyboard
Hair Gem Stylers
Hally's Patent-Pending Gem Pen Brings Bedazzling to a New Generation
Edible Sugar Pens
3Doodler's ChefDoodler is a Sugar Pen for the Modern Baker
Magnetic Wirelessly Charged Stylus
The Pro Stylus 2 by ZAGG is Designed with Tilt Sensitivity
Electronic Device Leather Accessories
Pad & Quill Creates Luxe Accessories for Apple Products
Screen-Equipped Computer Peripherals
Reid Parsekian's Magic Mouse Touch Includes a Display
Timeless Typewriter Keyboard
The Qwerkywriter Meets Modern-Day Tech Needs
Digital Sticky Note Tools
QR-NOTE Introduces a Modern Twist to the Traditional Sticky Note
Flying Umbrella Prototypes
This Hands-Free Device Hovers Above You to Protect From the Rain
AI-Powered Ballpoint Pens
Nuwa Innovation Presents the AI-Fuelled Nuwa Pen Design
Four-in-One Colored Pens
BIC Launched its 4 Color Shine Pens for Back-to-School
Ergonomic Liquid Eyeliners
Professional Paint Brushes Inspired the 24/7 Inks Liquid Eyeliner
Digital Pen Technology
The Apple Pencil Pro Was Made to Complement Apple's Ecosystem
Professional Drawing Tablet Apps
Astropad Slate Transforms the iPad into a Drawing Tablet
Wireless Ergonomic Keyboards
Logitech Introduces Wave Keys: the Future of Ergonomic Typing
DIY-Targeted Product Lines
xTool's M1 Ultra and Heat Press Cater to DIY Enthusiasts of All Levels
Waterproof Acrylic Pens
Ohuhu Launxhes Kakaako Dual Nib Waterproof Acrylic Pens
Tactical Smartphone Accessories
The PUI Series Creates a Unique Way to Interact with Phones
Sticky Notes Holder Concepts
This Post-it Note Holder Concept has a Tall Structure
Enhanced Thumb Prosthetics
Dani Clode and Her Team Create the Third Thumb Device
Pill-Shaped Pen Holders
Liam de la Bedoyere Designs the Void Pen Pot with a Resting Space
Virtual MR Headset Styluses
The Logitech MX Ink Mixed Reality Stylus Works with the Meta Quest
Bean-Shaped Vibrant Chalks
Areaware Presents the Colorful New Bean Chalks for Imaginative Drawing
All-Metal 4-In-1 EDC Pens
The FLINTONE is a Modular Pen with Various Functions
Retro-Inspired Mechanical Keyboards
AZIO Introduces a Juxtaposing Tactile Keyboard Design
Ergonomic Natural Movement Keyboards
The Flow Keyboard by NUIO Transforms Ergonomic Peripherals
Precision-Engineered EDC Pens
The WESN Bard Titanium Pen is Modern and Minimalistic
Typewriter-Style PC Peripherals
The FINEDAY 3.0 Full Aluminum Mechanical Keyboard is Sophisticated
Clipping Pen Devices
The Clippen Can Be Easily Clipped onto Any Document
AI-Powered Writing Tools
myStylus Seeks to Boost Academic and Professional Writing
Hand-Tracking Devices
PalmPlug is a Precise Hand-Tracking Device
Digitized Note-Taking Apps
FlowNote Turns Note-Taking Into an Art
Low-Cost Entry-Level Styluses
The New Apple Pencil Has USB-C Connectivity and More
Handwriting Editing Tools
'Goodnotes' Note-Taking App Can Read Scribbles Using AI
Customizable Pen Kits
Clementoni's Pen Creator Studio Helps Kids Create Their Own Pens
Speech-To-Text Transcriptions
VoicePen Converts Recordings into Text, Summaries, or Blog Posts
Folding Travel Toothbrush Concepts
Uladzislau Patapchyk Designs the IO Travel Toothbrush Concept
Wristworn Makeup Brushes
Pennelli Faro Debuted a Makeup Brush Innovation at 'MakeUp in' 2023
Illuminated Stainless Steel Clipboards
Studio SHFT Designs the FOLD B with a Minimal Aesthetic
AI-Powered Academic Writing Tools
Quillword Helps Produce More Research-Focused Writing
Elevating Notepad Features
Goodnotes, a Renowned AI Note-Taking App, Debuts Palette & Dynamic Ink
Acrylic-Accommodating Keyboard Covers
The Tippy Type Helps Users with Long Nails to Type with Ease
Multipurpose Solvent Pens
The WD-40 Precision Pen Takes a Trusted Formula to Go
Joy-Infused Writing Support
InkJot is an App That Adds More Fun to the Writing Process
Pottery-Inspired Artful Notebooks
Sutta Design Creates the Dynamic Kintsugi Art Notebook
Domed Haptic Feedback Trackpads
The Conceptual 'PAD' Trackpad by Ivan Llaneza is Intuitive
Click-Activated Modern Mechanical Pencils
Machine Era Introduces the Machine Era | Pencil
Written-to-Digital To-Do Lists
Papper Let's Users Scan and Digitize Handwritten Notes and Lists
Visually Warped Keyboard Caps
Vivaan Singh Designs the Warped New Ergonomic ESC Keycap
Powerful Transcription Tools
Stenote Can Produce Meeting Notes, Summaries, and More
Author-Honoring Digital Typewriters
The Freewrite Ernest Hemingway Signature Edition is Retro
Minimal Compact Pen Stands
Kairi Eguchi Designs the Metallic Serenity Pen Stand
Hybrid Angled Stationary Designs
The 25° Ruler by orangered life Has a Ergonomic Design
Geometric Dynamic Stationary
The Hexagonal Ruler Creates Crisp and Clean Drawings
Automated Writing Workflow Solutions
Typesetterr is a Automated Formatting Tool for Writers
Imaginative Pared-Back Art Supplies
Woset Designs a Range of Stationary and Furniture for Kids
Streamlined AI Writing Services
LittleJot Aims to Simplify the Often Complex Task of Writing
Thought-to-Text Tools
AudioPen Turns Rambles Into Clear Text
Collaborative Insights Sharing
Collabwriting Empowers Teams to Collect and Share Across the Web
Multifunctional Projection Mobile Desks
The Atmus Mobile Desk by Clarus Creates a Working Hub