The Ballpoint Pen

The Quill

500

The quill was invented in the 6th century and was use for writing up to the 19th century. The quill did not have a built in ink well and needed to be dipped. This led to many smears, spills and dribbles.

Fountain Pen

1827

The fountain pen was invented in the beginning of the 19th century and was commonly used up to the 20th century. The fountain pen had a built in ink well but it still bled and smeared often and was not ideal for writing on rougher surfaces.

Ballpoint Pen

1888

The ball point pen was invented in the late 19th century and it is still widely used around the world. The pen has had some miner modifications like the materials its made out of and retractable wells. The ball point pen can write on multiple surfaces and doesn't leak. Smearing can be prevented based on the inks used.

The Future Pen

2031

The future of the ballpoint pen is uncertain do to advancing technologies and touch screens. The most likely change for the pen is the materials used in making it. Instead of modern plastic casing for the pen it could be bio degradable. Pen companies might also focus on producing stylus pens to appeal to larger audiences.