The Washington Post reports on Handwrytten, a robot-driven card-writing service. The article cites a user who finds the service “cheaper — and easier — than going to the store, picking out a card and paying for postage.” And, the user adds, you can schedule in advance.
I noticed Handwrytten in 2014 and am surprised, kinda, that the company is still going. It must serve a need. But you could also schedule in advance by writing in your datebook: “Buy and mail card.” Or you could schedule and send an e-mail — much cheaper and easier still than setting up an account to pay for robots. But cheaper and easier are not always the point. TV dinner, anyone?
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I forgot: in The New York Times last week, a counter-narrative, in defense of handwritten notes and cards.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Robots writing
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"To me, it’s the same, whether a robot writes it or I do,” said Shanan, 47, who works for an IT company in Atlanta. “What matters is that I was thinking of them.”
What about whether it's the same to them? This sounds like a selfish attitude. The care and expense of choosing, signing, and sending is what matters, not the convenience for the sender.
(Yeah, they were glad to hear from him, but I wouldn't be. :))
I was imagining the explanation: “Mom, Dad, this was cheaper and easier,” &c.
And what happens when you get cards from different people with the same “handwriting”?
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