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
Adjustable Whiteout Pens
The Modi-Roller Has a Width Adjuster to Cover All Sizes of Written Text
7
Parkinson's-Assisting Pens
The ARC Pen Vibrates To Make Writing Easier For Parkinson's Patients
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
Digital Productivity Desk Devices
The 'Note' Desk Accessory Concept by Harshit Sahu is Intuitive
Empowering Walking Sticks
18 Designers Conceptualized Walking Sticks for the Future Selves
See-Through Mobile Typewriters
The Freewrite Traveler Ghost Edition Has a Crystalline Finish
Aerospace-Inspired Desk Accessories
The Novium 'Edge' and 'Shuttleport' Have a Minimalist Design
Malleable Stress Relief Mouses
The Conceptual 'Vent' Wireless Mouse Has a Soft Silicone Exterior
Card-Size Travel Cutlery
Uphold is a Cutlery Set That Measures 10mm in Thickness
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
Angled Dual-Display Smartwatches
This Apple Watch Concept by Tien Hung Optimizes Efficiency
Electronic Ink Keyboard Peripherals
The 'Gauge' Keyboard by Designer Dot Can Change Languages
Artist-Inspired Fountain Pens
Montblanc Unveils Its Latest Vincent van Gogh Inspired Fountain Pens
Three-in-One Laptop Designs
The 'SEAL' Laptop Concept by Johnny Jia-Sheng Chen is Ergonomic
Multipurpose Workstation Accessories
The Oakywood Wooden Cubic Pot Holds Pens or Plants
Self-Stabilizing Mouse Designs
The 'ST[ILT]' Mouse by Monica Bhyrappa Supports Users with Tremors
AI-Fuelled Ballpoint Pens
The XNote is a ChatGPT-Enhanced Pen for Digital Drawings
Sleek Ergonomic Mouse Concepts
This Apple Magic Mouse Pro by Vincent Lin is Comfortable to Use
Multifunctional Foldable Mobile Devices
The Conceptual 'Move' Mobile Device Replaces Five Devices
Notepad-Replacing E Ink Tablets
The PocketBook InkPad X Pro Comes with a Wacom Stylus
Health-Conscious Mouse Designs
The 'Ergo' Ergonomic Mouse Concept by Pranav Kuber is Advanced
Ergonomic Instant Noodle Forks
Nendo x Nissin The Fork Supports Easy Eating of Instant Noodles
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
Folding Ambidextrous Mouse Concepts
The Microsoft Form Travel Mouse by Carl Betterley is Compact
Undulating Desktop Valet Trays
The Wav Minimal Desk Organizer Has a Sleek Design
Aesthetically-Pleasing Computer Peripherals
Fabio Verdelli Design Studio’s DUNE Mouse is Stunning
Progressive Rewritable Tattoos
Keith McCurdy Presents the Magic Ink Tattoo Innovation
Galactic-Themed Pen Holders
The UFO Desk Pen Holder Appears to be Levitating in the Air
Multi-Functional Computer Mouses
Juwon Lee of Dawn BYSJ Boasts the SEEK Concept
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
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
Refill-Friendly Ruler Pens
Rulapen Works as a 2-in-1 Multifunctional Durable Ruler and Pen with
Modernized AI-Powered Typewriters
The 'Ghostwriter' AI Typewriter by Arvind Sanjeev is Intuitive
3D-Printed E Ink Typewriters
Vincente Cruz Designs the Tapico Typer with a Minimal Look
Elevated Titanium Utility Knives
The Ti Utility Knife Has Ceramic Ball Bearings and More
Connected Translation Pens
The Youdao Dictionary Pen 3 Helps with Language Learning and More
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
Curvaceous Analog Designer Rulers
The Ruler_C Concept Updates a Simple Yet Essential Tool
Elegantly Modernized Fountain Pens
The TaG Submarine Collection Pens Come in Two Options
Tactile Smart Home Devices
The 'from()' Design Concept Prioritizes Intuitive Controls
Freestyle Desktop Printers
The Conceptual 'DUAL' Printer Device by Joonyeol Bae is Handheld
Custom Ergonomics Computer Mouses
The Formify Mouse is Lightweight and High-Performance
Stylus-Friendly eReader Tablets
The Kobo Elipsa 2E Works for Both Reading and Writing
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
Ergonomic 3D-Printed Pens
ADD APT is a "Superior Writing Tool" That is Incredibly Comfortable
Calligraphic Lip Pens
Stila's Calligraphy Lip Stain Softly Adds Color with a Precision Tip
Professional-Targeted PC Peripherals
The New CHERRY Keyboard and Mouse Enable At-Home Productivity
Real-Time Digitizing Note-Taking Tools
The Nuwa Pen by Nuwa Bridges the Physical & Digital
Ergonomic Low-Gravity Stationary
The Gravity Pen Focuses the Center of Gravity at the Lower Design
Digital Note-Taking Tablets
Onyx International Releases a Cheaper Monochrome E-Paper Tablet Option
Multi-Position Mini Maker Drills
The SDS ULTRA PLUS Mini Electric Drill Pen Works in Two Ways
Wearable PC Keyboard Controllers
The Grab Shell is a New Multifunctional Handheld Keyboard Design
Angled Productivity PC Mouses
The Hansker Vertical Mouse Comes in Two Versions
Text Transformation Tools
The Stylish Font Generator Adds Style and Creativity to Text
Pressure-Sensitive Mouse Designs
The 'Just another mouse' by Matteo Ercole is Button-Free
E-Ink Digital Wall Displays
Chester Chen Designs the Fusion to Maximize Productivity
Speech-to-Text Assistive Pens
The World Literacy Foundation Creates the Literacy Pen
Braille-Equipped Memo Devices
The 'TEXT.ure' Memo Device Lets Users Read Notes in Private
Wrist-Supportive Mouse Pads
Wonjun Jo Designs the New Curble Mouse Pad with Ergonomic Support
Industrial Gaming Controller Designs
The Conceptual Dyson Gamepad by Shivendu Verma is Tubular
Polluted Air-Created Pencils
Wunderman Thompson & Otrivin Create the Pollution Capture Pencils
Stingray-Inspired Ergonomic Devices
Waia Designs the Neo Mouse with Comfortable Forms
3D Glasses-Free OLED Laptops
Asus Launches the New ProArt Studiobook 16 3D OLED Laptop
External OLED Pen Displays
Wacom Unveiled its Highest-Spec 13" Pen Display to Date
Productivity-Focused Tablet Accessories
reMarkable Launched a Folio Type Case for its Tablet
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
Intentional Modern Day Tools
Inside Then Out Boasts a Line of Elegant & Slick Minimalist Products
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
Skeletal Symmetrical Mouse Designs
The Inphic PX2 Wireless Mouse Has a Silent Clicking Design
Japanese Bento-Inspired Stationery
NOOE's Bento Jot Offers an Efficient Storage Solution
Sticky Note Printers
Mangoslab's Nemonic Gen 2 Brings Memo Making to a New Generation
Retro 3D-Printed Bags
Coperni's CD-PLAYER Swipe Bag Resembles a Portable Music Player
Dexterity-Aiding Toothbrush Add-Ons
Landor & Fitch Designs the Accessories Handles
Digital Ink Pens
The Colorpik Pen Scans and Replicates Millions of Colors
Wireless Tongue-Operated Trackpads
Augmental Unveils its New Product Dubbed MouthPad^
Easily Customizable Laptops
Lenovo's New Laptop Features an E-Ink Display
Thin Travel Computer Mouse
The Air.0 Computer Mouse is Foldable and Inspired by Origami
Book-Shaped Transparent Bookmarks
TENT Unveils the Uniquely Shaped Book on Book Bookmark
Handheld Maker Grinding Pens
The 'KODIY ' Mini Electric Grinder Pen Works for a Range of Projects
Recycled Plastic Writing Utensils
The 'PENTAPA' Mechanical Drop Pencil is Cleverly Designed
Ergonomic Worker-Friendly Keyboards
Logitech Unveils the Ergonomic 'Wave Keys' Keyboard
Space-Inspired Hovering Pens
The Levitating Pen 3.0 Appears to be Magically Floating in the Air
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
Sleek Stingray-Inspired Mouses
The Conceptual 'Mylio' Mouse by Hrishab Prasad is Graceful
Screen-Equipped Computer Peripherals
Reid Parsekian's Magic Mouse Touch Includes a Display
Hybrid Virtual Brainstorming Apps
The Post-it Note App for Microsoft Teams is Intuitive
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
Sleek Compact Keyboard Designs
The Fusion Keyboard 2.0 is Sophisticated and Practical
Ergonomic Liquid Eyeliners
Professional Paint Brushes Inspired the 24/7 Inks Liquid Eyeliner
Sculptural Artful Ultrasonic Cleaners
above studio Designs the Ultrasonic UV-C Light Cleaner
Interactive Creative Professional Displays
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 27 Provides Premium Precision
Creative Professional Tablet Models
These New ViewSonic Graphics Tablets Come in Three Models
Professional Drawing Tablet Apps
Astropad Slate Transforms the iPad into a Drawing Tablet
Clothespin-Inspired Mechanical Pencils
The PENTAPA is Created Entirely from Recycled Plastic
Wireless Ergonomic Keyboards
Logitech Introduces Wave Keys: the Future of Ergonomic Typing
Tactical Smartphone Accessories
The PUI Series Creates a Unique Way to Interact with Phones
Compact Precise Sketching Tools
The Horizon Helvetica Ruler is an All-In-One Drawing Tool
Sticky Notes Holder Concepts
This Post-it Note Holder Concept has a Tall Structure
AI-Powered Academic Writing Tools
Quillword Helps Produce More Research-Focused Writing
Stylishly Functional PC Peripherals
The Waia 'neo' Ergonomic Mouse and Keyboard are Chic
Bean-Shaped Vibrant Chalks
Areaware Presents the Colorful New Bean Chalks for Imaginative Drawing
Retro-Inspired Mechanical Keyboards
AZIO Introduces a Juxtaposing Tactile Keyboard Design
Ergonomic Whiteboard Laptop Stands
The FluidStance Lift Laptop Riser and Whiteboard is Handy
Premium Tablet Styluses
Logitech Updates its 'Crayon' Stylus to Accomodate the New iPad Models
Professional Drawing Tablets
Xencelabs Unveiled the 'Pen Display 24' for Studio Artists
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
Illuminated Stainless Steel Clipboards
Studio SHFT Designs the FOLD B with a Minimal Aesthetic
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
Joy-Infused Writing Support
InkJot is an App That Adds More Fun to the Writing Process
Minimalist Shell-Like Mice
Fabio Verdelli Design Studio Introduces the 'DUNE' Mouse Concept
Wristworn Makeup Brushes
Pennelli Faro Debuted a Makeup Brush Innovation at 'MakeUp in' 2023
Everlasting Metal Pencils
This Pencil is Entirely Made from Metal and Requires No Sharpening
Click-Activated Modern Mechanical Pencils
Machine Era Introduces the Machine Era | Pencil
Multifunctional Touchpad Tablets
The Acepen Touchpad Drawing Tablet Works with Any Device
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
Hybrid Angled Stationary Designs
The 25° Ruler by orangered life Has a Ergonomic Design
Minimal Compact Pen Stands
Kairi Eguchi Designs the Metallic Serenity Pen Stand
Crow Beak-Inspired Tweezers
Takahito Murakami and Researchers Design the Kuchibashi
Geometric Dynamic Stationary
The Hexagonal Ruler Creates Crisp and Clean Drawings
Automated Writing Workflow Solutions
Typesetterr is a Automated Formatting Tool for Writers
Powerful Transcription Tools
Stenote Can Produce Meeting Notes, Summaries, and More
Thought-to-Text Tools
AudioPen Turns Rambles Into Clear Text