Inkbase: Programmable Ink (inkandswitch.com)

Article summary

The article discusses the concept of programmable ink, which allows users to create dynamic and interactive sketches. The authors draw inspiration from the success of spreadsheets and aim to create a tool that combines the flexibility of pen and paper with the computational power of digital media. They explore the potential use cases and research questions surrounding this idea, including the design of a programming model and interface. The goal is to create a tool that enables users to define new computational behaviors and interact with their sketches in a more meaningful way.

Main themes

• programmable ink
• interactive sketches
• spreadsheets
• pen and paper
• computer technology
• visual scripting
• OCR
• handwritten code
• education
• learning

What commenters say

• Some commentators believe that the idea of programmable ink is not new and has been tried before without success.
• Others think that the concept has the potential to revolutionize the way we interact with computers and create new forms of expression.
• There is a debate about whether the progress in computer technology has been limited to incremental improvements rather than revolutionary changes.
• The idea of using visual scripting and node-based interfaces is seen as a promising approach to creating a more intuitive and accessible programming language.
• Some argue that the use of OCR to recognize handwritten code is not practical due to the imprecision of OCR technology.
• Others propose the development of a specialized programming language that is optimized for handwritten input and can tolerate small mistakes.
• The potential applications of programmable ink in education and learning are seen as significant, but there is a need for more research and development in this area.