As will be abundantly clear as you look over my Writer Deck pages, the Micro Journals have become my Writer Decks of choice.
To me, a big part of the appeal is Un Kyu Lee's designs and the unusual approach he takes. He lives and does his work in Italy. These are very personal designs. Rather than crowdfunding for a new manufacturing enterprise, he makes designs, finds ways to 3D Print them and then sells hand built devices to a few people who also like them as time permits. First, that makes it personal. Second, this technique is a kind of rapid prototyping that allows Un Kyu to evolve new designs quickly, just to see if something works. Finally, for me,his instincts about design are quite in line with my instincts about what I need in a writing tool.
My standard, before I discovered Un Kyu's work, were the Alphasmart Neo and the Alphasmart Dana. I think Un Kyu's Rev 5(not reviewed yet as I am letting a friend use it), Rev 6 and Rev 7 are all Neo replacements differing mostly in how much keyboard you get and price (those two variables being correlated). The Rev 5 has no keyboard (bring your own), The Rev 6 has an Ortholinear mechanical keyboard, and the Rev 7 has a full staggered keyboard. The Rev 7 has a wonderful typewriter aesthetic that is quite elegant and pulls me right into writing when I am home. The Rev 2 is a clamshell running a Raspberry Pi SOC with Linux installed. This is a great Dana replacement allowing good portability plus both drafting and editing functionality. This is my choice for a Writing Deck on the go.
The Micro Journals Rev 6, Rev 7 and Rev 2
You can read about each of these great Writer Decks in more detail on the pages I've created for each. I just wanted to remind folks that all of these different Micro Journals spring from the mind of Un Kyu Lee who brings something special to his designs. I hope you agree, even if they don't fit you as well as they fit me. I'm not going to talk about Un Kyu Lee beyond his machines and design sense. Who am I to speak for him or put words in his mouth? So I invited him to give us some of his own words.
Hi! This is Un Kyu Lee. Builder of the Micro Journal.
Micro Journal is a personal and private journey to build a perfect device for writing. I started to keep journals a few years ago. Then it evolved into a journey of creating a perfect writing machine for my journals. Hence the name, Micro Journal.
It's a DIY project and it is a open source project. You can build them by yourself. I also provide a channel for those who can't build them, where I build it for them.
When I sleep on a bed, I tend to take the very edge of it. In a way that my body is on the verge of falling down. Leaving much space on the other side. That empty space is for my partner or for my kids. I want them to take as much space for themselves. So, even if it is rightfully my space, I tend not to take ownership of it. It is a great pleasure to see kids rolling and turning all around while asleep.
Probably, that's the philosophy I see when leaving the project open to everyone. I much prefer to provide for someone who would feel much value from such a device. It just makes me feel alive to see someone being so happy with my creation. I prefer not to block their way of getting what they value. Leaving the space for others to enjoy as it is.
I started writing a journal on my laptop. Did you know that you need a huge amount of energy and dedication to keep yourself into writing? On a laptop? There are very intriguing icons for a web browser. Various bookmarks. That can extract my interest, that would lure me into fun and fantastic moments. These are really something that blocks me from keeping writing.
A lot of people ask why would you need a dedicated machine for writing? A laptop or a phone would do exactly the same or better. I don't disagree. You don't need a dedicated machine. Also, it's a matter of discpline, to not get distracted by the entertainment while writing. But... you know what they say? Once gone black never comes back.
Constraints are a great element for creativity. Imagine. You are locked in a room with nothing. Only things that are given to you are a pen and paper. Only thing that you can do is writing. It would be the only thing you can do other than thinking.
When you are left in that situation, you get into a flow. A full attention to what and how the texts are appearing in front of your eyes. It's a feeling that you wouldn't be able to (easily or never) get in with a laptop computer. In a flow state, the only thing your brain is focused on is writing. Distraction free writing is a real thing. There is no logical explanation to make it sound reasonable in the modern era when everything is possible at every moment. Distraction-free writing is something that you will earn by chance.
Micro Journal has started with a very personal reason and private preferences. I have been iterating and creating newer builds that could be an improvement. Will it be a better device than any other devices out there? Not so sure. One thing for sure is, Micro Journal is the perfect device for me.
You can check out all the Micro Journals in Un Kyu Lee's Tyndie Shoip
Or you can find my thoughts and help links here: