We are losing a lot with this Digital Age we live in. People don’t write letters anymore. The most common form of communication is text messaging and emails. So what is lost you say? Emotion. Individuality. Personalization. I remember when I was in basic training at Ft. Sill. It was a happy day when the guy came in to yell out names of those who got mail. There was nothing like opening up a letter and actually seeing my mother’s handwriting on the pages inside. There was something magical about that. And the magic was in her handwriting. It made you feel like she was right there. I recently came across some letters and notes that my sister Michelle wrote to me years ago. Having lost her over a year ago to cancer, anything I find from her is a treasure. But there was something about these letters and notes that hit me more than the text messages and emails that I saved from her. These were in her handwriting. And when reading them in that not-so-good left hand writing that she had, it brought on an emotion that emails and text messages could not. Seeing that handwriting of hers made me feel like she was still here because there was life in it. It was something she created. Something formed by her hand.
Just as you read this bland text of my typing, millions of others are seeing the same texts come across their computers, iPads and smartphones every day. So what can we do to help this part of our society from just withering away? I am glad you asked!
I have come up with a solution for the boring texts and emails. I am making a mobile app called Grafi! Grafi comes from the Greek word for script, which is what my app does. It gives the user the ability to script their own handwriting and attach it to each character on a stored keyboard in their smartphone. Then when they open up that keyboard to type an email or text message, they will see the letters come on screen in their own script. They will also be able to post on some social media sites and it be more personable because they will be showing off their own handwritten characters while others still use the boring ones.
Now to make this app a reality, I have contracted a local firm who develops apps. And they are not cheap! So I am using a crowd funding site called Kickstarter to help me fund this project. I have built a campaign for this Kickstarter with a reward system for those who give to the project. The rewards are tiered so that the people who give the larger pledges get the bigger rewards. But everyone who gives gets to be recognized and be part of something exciting and big!
So everyone on here can help by visiting the Kickstarter page and seeing what we have done there. Some might want to participate and pledge a certain amount to the project. Some may can only help spread the word of this project and help out that way. Both are going to be important parts of our success. So please help any way you can! Thank you!
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1637557028/grafi-communicating-can-be-personal-again
