| With the phenomenal growth in the use of email, texts, | | | | - Deliver drivers and the postman now typically ask for |
| smart phones, blogs, and other PC and technology | | | | an electronic signature onto a hand-held terminal rather |
| orientated gadgets these days is it finally time to | | | | than onto a paper sheet with a conventional pen. |
| consign the pen to the dustbin. | | | | These are just a few examples of how the use of |
| Its not just "old fashioned" letter writing that has taken | | | | the pen is declining in our everyday life. But, the reality |
| a huge hit. Simple, everyday things we used to use a | | | | is that pens are going to be with us for many years to |
| pen for have are either in decline or have disappeared | | | | come and realistically whilst the use of pens is in |
| altogether. Consider the following: | | | | decline many of us still love the personal expression |
| - We no longer use a pen to sign credit card vouchers | | | | and simple pleasure of using a pen to write with. There |
| in store because paper vouchers have now been | | | | are also circumstances where there is simply no |
| replaced with a Chip & PIN system. | | | | substitute for pen and paper! |
| - Hand written cheques are in terminal decline and the | | | | Pens have long been a favourite product within the |
| banks are keen to withdraw them altogether sighting | | | | promotional industry primarily because they are |
| alternatives like debit and credit cards, on-line backing | | | | relatively cheap and they're handy to have. But, even |
| and ATM's as replacements | | | | this product has been caught up with the onward |
| - Greeting cards can now be sent virtually over the | | | | march of technology. Today rather than give away a |
| web albeit they never seem quite as personal as a | | | | standard pen or perhaps a fountain pen many |
| hand written card. | | | | companies instead prefer to give-away USB pens. |
| - Phone numbers are exchanged over networks and | | | | These are hybrid products that still look and function |
| directly from phone to phone rather than being | | | | like a pen but they double up as a USB memory stick. |
| scribbled down and entered into a diary | | | | Inside the barrel of the pen is a USB connector and a |
| - The emergence of small portable PC tablets and | | | | flash memory chip. This allows the USB pen to carry |
| products like the iPad will eventually replace the | | | | literally thousands of documents and images just like a |
| notepad in meetings at work and ultimately at school. | | | | conventional USB memory stick. |