# Awful Penmanship Pileups The Computer Age Puts an End to Crafted Cursive in Cakes By Jessica Marcel | Published 2009-09-26 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/awful-penmanship References: [cakewrecks.blogspot](http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/09/nifty-neat-o-penmanship.html) & [neatorama](http://www.neatorama.com/2009/09/20/is-cursive-handwriting-necessary/) Kids used to be the only ones with an excuse for awful penmanship. The idea of all that [cursive practice](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/make-a-sign), though, was that you would improve your handwriting. Awful penmanship used to be unacceptable (unless you had someone to write for you). There were no word processors, no typesets, no ‘[Times New Roman](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/times-new-ramen)’ font readily available to anyone with a printer. So people learned how to write. Now people don’t have to learn how to write, and awful penmanship is the standard. These photos of [hilarious cakes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/artful-cake) show how awful penmanship has made its mark. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.8/10 - Popularity: 45% | Activity: 91% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Computers](https://www.trendhunter.com/computers) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Decline of Handwriting:** The decline of handwriting skills due to technology provides opportunities for products and services that help individuals improve their penmanship. - **Handwriting Analysis:** The increasingly difficult ability to read handwriting may create opportunities for technology that can analyze and decipher cursive writing. - **Personalization Through Handwriting:** As handwriting becomes less common, personalized notes and gifts may become more meaningful, creating opportunities for businesses that cater to this need. ### Who This Affects Most - **Education:** Incorporating programs or technologies that teach handwriting can be utilized as a selling point for schools and educational programs. - **Technology:** Innovative companies can create products that aid in reading handwriting or create personalized products through advanced technology. - **Gifting Industry:** As handwriting becomes less common and more appreciated, businesses within the gifting industry can offer personalized messages and gifts created in handwriting to increase customer satisfaction. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Dental Instrument-Inspired Pens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handwriting-tool.md) - [AI Writing Parody Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/badwritergpt.md) - [Digital Handwriting Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/handtextai.md) - [Edible Sugar Pens](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/chefdoodler.md) - [Stylish Text Creators](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cursive-font-generator.md) - [Digital Handwriting Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kindly-ink.md) - [AI-Written Printed Letters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snappysnail.md) - [Functional Block Brick Typewriters](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-typewriter.md) - [Written-to-Digital To-Do Lists](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/papper.md)