Hemingwrite is a modern typewriter that lets you write drafts without the usual distractions that come with laptops, tablets, and computers. This campaign launched on Kickstarter yesterday and has already raised over $222K towards their $250K goal and become a Kickstarter Staff Pick.
The project’s creators are Adam Leeb, a mechanical engineering graduate from MIT who focuses on product design, and Patrick Paul, a software developer who graduated from Michigan State. Their mission is to make a machine that is simple, free from distracting apps and menus, and has some 21st century conveniences thrown in to make writing more enjoyable again.
One of the modern features included in the Hemingwrite is that it is a digital typewriter with an e-paper screen. This makes it easy to read at all times of the day and different places without harsh glares or unnaturally bright lighting. The Hemingwrite is Wi-Fi enabled so that when you are finished working on a piece you can flip a switch and upload your work directly to your favorite text editor using their secure Postbox cloud server. In a place where you don’t have a Wi-Fi connection? Don’t sweat it! The Hemingwrite can automatically store 1 million + pages and upload them once you re-connect. The battery also lasts four + weeks with ‘normal’ use.
The design is planned so that the Hemingwrite is easy for everyone to use – there is a simple on/off switch, a mechanical keyboard with great tactile feedback, page up/down buttons, a status bar (that can show your word count, a timer for writing goals, or nothing), and quick folder navigation. The device weighs approximately four pounds, is durable, and comes with a handle for easy transportation. The creators think that this design will increase writers’ productivity and enhance the writing process:
“The Hemingwrite fits into a routine that many writers find critical to their workflow: separate drafting and editing sessions. First, you draft, going from start to finish. Then, you review and make edits later.”
Being able to upload to the cloud using Postbox will make this easy. You can use Postbox to connect to your favorite editors like Microsoft Word, Evernote, or Google Docs and do editing from there. You can also set up your printer so you can add documents to your printing queue remotely for paper and pen editing.
There will also be keyboard mappings for different languages – right now they are planning to offer German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Turkish – but will try to include popular backer requests. Many backers also hope to see an alternative to Wi-Fi storage such as USB or SD card to be included in the final design for confidentiality and usability reasons, as they have commented on the Kickstarter page:
This team has done great getting the word out before launching which has helped with their success on Kickstarter so far. Prices for one unit range from $349 to $399, though early bird tiers are filling up fast (they will be priced at $499 retail). Many backers seem very enthusiastic about this new niche product and excited to see it happen.
