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Remote writing

I don't think I'd ever have a need for it myself but I just love the idea of the LongPen, the device author Margaret Atwood helped create to let her sign autographs long distance by remote control.

According to an Associated Press story about its debut appearance, the publishing industry is also excited about its potential for reinvigorating the marketing of books. Imagine authors making public appearances by video link and holding virtual autograph sessions in places they couldn't -- or wouldn't -- travel to in person.

Most tellingly, the company that Atwood formed to build the LongPen is already working on adapting it to autograph sports paraphernalia, expanding its potential user base to include professional athletes.

Not covered in the AP story, however, is whether autograph collectors would ascribe more or less value to a signature generated via telepresence. I'm sure we'll learn the answer to that before too much longer.

Posted by Brian Chin at March 8, 2006 10:51 p.m. Category: March of progress