The arrival of the touchscreen in our lives signaled a major change in the way we communicate with one another and even with ourselves. Suddenly, the pen was relegated to the pages of history and note-taking and sketching were placed, quite literally, at our fingertips.
Except we all know that is not entirely the case. When the courier asks us to sign his hand-held device, that fingertip scrawl looks less like our conventional signature and more like a toddler’s first tentative attempts at writing. When we need precision, whether it is for writing, sketching or even playing a game at online casino Winningroom, a stylus is more than just a “nice to have.”
So what should you be looking for when choosing a stylus? As the interface between you and your tablet, we need to consider both sides of the equation, and assess how it feels in your hand and also how well it interacts with the touchscreen on your device.
The nib
A stylus nib might be made of rubber, mesh or plastic. Ideally, choose one that has a cap that will protect the nib, or alternatively, one where the nib retracts into the body. Some styluses have additional Bluetooth interaction that makes control and accuracy even better.
Overall Feel
We are all different when it comes to pens and pencils in terms of the type we feel most comfortable using. Some insist on a biro, while for others, only an ink fountain pen will do. There is no right or wrong answer, so you will need to experiment and try out a few different styluses to get a feel for the sort that is right for you. Take your time, and really try each one out properly. The idea here is to weed out the ones that will make your fingers or wrist cramp up after a short period of use.
Weight
Following on from the above, you will also need to assess what weight of stylus best matches your writing style. Too heavy, and the dreaded writer’s cramp will start setting in. Too light, and accuracy will start to suffer.
Balance
Choose a stylus that is of medium height to match your hand. For optimum comfort and accuracy, even weight distribution is usually best, although you might find a slightly top- or bottom- heavy stylus better suits you.
Friction
It is important that you try the stylus on your own tablet, or at least on one of the same type. Some stylus / tablet combinations just don’t work as well as others. Writing and annotating should be smooth, natural and without any lag. Sometimes, a stylus will feel great in your hand, but just won’t get along with your tablet, in which case you need to keep looking.
Perfect harmony
Tie all the above factors together and you will have a stylus that feels like both an extension of your hand and an extension of your tablet, allowing you to work or play with precision, and enhancing your overall experience.
