If you have ever used a Nintendo DS, you might remember the “stylus”, a touch pencil used to interact with the console’s touch screen. While Nintendo didn’t invent these pencils, they did become trendy for a time, thanks to the console.
Foto de Ketut Subiyanto de Pexels:
However, as time passed, the stylus was slowly abandoned or at least that was what we thought. Although the Nintendo DS consoles were discontinued years ago, it seems that the styluses have survived the passing of time and are now being used again.
From Writing to Art: The First Uses of Stylus
The styluses were first introduced with the RAND tablet, one of the first attempts at an electronic digital tablet. Since their creation, digital styluses have been used to write and make signatures on digital documents.
But, as time passed, the tablets became more advanced, and the use of styluses expanded. One of the first examples was the Microsoft tablet which allowed users to draw illustrations using programs like paint and ink art.
The stylus was also used in many gaming areas besides the Nintendo DS. For example, many developers started making.
Styluses And Their Use In Gambling
Many players use their stylus to play slots, table games and online scratching card games. If you wish to play on these sites, we recommend checking an essential guide to legal gambling age. to ensure you meet the basic requirements.
The Rise and Fall of The Stylus
Despite being created during the 60s, the stylus didn’t become popular until the launch of the Nintendo DS in 2004. The console sold millions of units during its lifetime and showed the potential of the stylus for drawing and gaming.
Six years later, Samsung decided to launch its own stylus brand, S Pen. While the S wasn’t for the stylus, it still held the same function of interacting with the touch screen.
But Samsung wasn’t the only one who used the stylus. In 2013, Wacom developed its first graphics tablet called “Intuos1”. That tablet came with its stylus, which became a hit among many artists for its precision.
Two years later, Apple launched their brand of a stylus called the “Apple Pencil”, which worked on the iPads using Bluetooth connexion. The Apple Pencil were popular even among non-iPad users, making them one of the most popular brands today.
Unfortunately, the DS consoles were discontinued as time passed, putting styluses out of the video gaming world. And while Samsung kept producing S-Pens, they became a separate accessory instead of a feature for their smartphones.
The stylus usage started to diminish, and many developers moved their interest to other technologies. But this didn’t become the end of the stylus; one sector still used them actively, the sector of digital artists.
The Renaissance of the Stylus
Thanks to the development of more powerful graphic tablets, the graphic design market has significantly increased in recent years. According to IbisWorld, the Global Graphic Designers Market made 43.4 billion dollars in 2022 and is expected to make even more next year.
The growth of this sector impulsed the development of styluses and revived their use among people who wanted to join the world of graphic design. Many engineers also use the stylus to make more precise blueprints.
Also, while the stylus has lost relevance in gaming, they have become part of their development, serving as a tool for building 3d models and game scenarios.
Types of Stylus
These are the most common types of styluses that you will find at any shop:
Passive Pen
Passive pens are the first generation of digital pencils, and their function is to simulate the touch of our fingers by disrupting the touchscreen’s electrostatic field.
The Passive pens are known for being the cheapest type of stylus, but they are not as precise as other newest pencils and are no longer recommended for precise work.
Echo Pen
The Echo stylus is usually connected to the tablet and works by generating a small electrical field that disrupts the tablet’s electrostatic grid. The echo pens are more expensive than the passive pens but are more precise.
Active Pen
Active stylus work with an internal battery and often need a Bluetooth connexion. These styluses have improved precision and sensibility compared to echo and passive pens, making them ideal for drawing and writing.
Which Is the Most Popular Brand of Stylus Right Now?
There are currently many stylus brands available, including Samsung and Apple pencils. If you’re looking for a good pencil for drawing, we recommend trying the Apple Pencil and the Renaisser brands, which offer excellent quality and precision.
Of course, suppose you are looking for something cheaper. You might want to try the universal stylus from MEKO or the Adonit Note, which offers excellent compatibility with iPad and other tablets.
