Freewrite
This is going to be an interesting experience.
I bought this Freewrite smart typewriter as a bit of an experiment. I usually wouldn’t have splurged on something like this, but the timing of my bonus check coincided with reading Slow Productivity by Cal Newport. The emphasis on slowing down and focusing on deep work away from distractions fits nicely with a device of this nature.
My attitude toward technology has evolved over the last few years in a way that is perhaps emblematic of a greater cultural shift and, if I’m being honest, is indicative of me simply getting old.
I started shooting film a half-decade ago. I like not seeing my images immediately after I shoot them. I bought an iPod classic last year from a guy on Etsy. He upgraded the battery and added Bluetooth connectivity (and added a transparent faceplate, which is pretty dope). I mostly use dedicated headphones — with wires — that, yes, actually plug into the iPod. I started buying physical books again. Admittedly, this was always my preference, but having a house affords the option of stacks on stacks of books in a way that living in apartments didn’t. Even my video games are retro and unconnected. I’ve been playing a ROM hack of Pokemon FireRed, initially released 20 years ago, on my Analogue Pocket, a device that has no Internet connectivity and functions as a high-quality Game Boy.
Many of these preference shifts represent an interesting blending of modern-day technology and throwback simplicity and slowness. Distraction may be the critical evil lurking below the surface. I find writing on my iPad or computer extremely difficult because I can’t go a few minutes before a notification disrupts me, or I get tempted to Google something that honestly isn’t that important. I could write on physical paper by hand, but then document management and editing become burdensome barriers. This typewriter is an elegant solution that blends modern-day technology with yesteryear’s distraction-free environment.
We’ll see how it works.
kyle wurtz 