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stuck-on-screen stylus

so you can't lose your stylus
  (+4, -6)
(+4, -6)
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A stylus can be easily lost. A tethered stylus solves this problem but the tether can be annoying.

So I propose a stylus with a nib that can be slid anywhere on the screen but cannot be lifted off the screen.

The stylus would have a spring so the default mode is pen-off. When the stylus is held and pressed against the screen to overcome the spring bias it goes to pen-on mode.

The stylus would be pivotally attached (e.g. ball&socket joint) to a slider mechanism on the screen. There are a few different slider mechanisms I can think of; the simplest being a transparent sheet about 50% larger than the screen that can be slid anywhere on the screen (with the stylus connected to the centre). An alternative would be a 2D gantry.

xaviergisz, Dec 26 2009

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       You could get an Etch-a-Sketch. I'm just sayin'.
phoenix, Dec 26 2009
  

       I think a finger sharpener would be more useful. Forget stylii altogether.
The_Saint, Dec 26 2009
  

       //a finger sharpener// sp. nails
pocmloc, Dec 26 2009
  

       Don't tether with string, just use velcro.
kaz, Dec 26 2009
  

       // nib that can be slid anywhere on the screen but cannot be lifted off the screen //   

       When you are writing something with a pencil, is it convenient to write by not lifting it off the paper?
Inyuki, Dec 27 2009
  

       the stylus can be raised from the surface but only by a limited distance (about 1cm) and it is still attached to the slider.   

       This is not going to be ideal for all users, but I'm sure there's a niche market for this somewhere (e.g. public information terminals)   

       Another advantage of this idea is that a touch screen is not needed. Instead the location of the stylus is determined from the slider.
xaviergisz, Dec 27 2009
  

       I am boning your, admittedly original idea on the grounds that if your idea was ever actually implemented, life would be a shade more aggravating.
MikeD, Dec 28 2009
  
      
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