[armada651]

Sounds like we need a single-purpose Linux distro that only runs a word processor. Of course that's not nearly as interesting as using a physical typewriter, but it sure is easier than scanning all those typewritten pages using OCR.

[83]

Theres a whole category of products that is just a keyboard with a tiny 3 or 4 lines of text lcd. (google electronic word processor, or Tandy WP-2). Probably not as popular today as they were back in the early 90s before everyone had a Pc, but I think they're still manufactured.

[kristianbrigman]

There were word processors with storage - I can’t remember how they worked but a dedicated typewriter doesn’t mean you can’t also get an electric copy.

Also found this in a quick search, basically an ereader + keyboard: https://getfreewrite.com/products/freewrite-traveler

[flobosg]

I built something similar using a spare ThinkPad x220 I had lying around and a minimal Debian installation. I would prefer something closer to the AlphaSmart Neo line of digital typewriters, though.

[helij]

Sounds like they need to learn how to deal with this. Turning off notifications might help as well. Eventually typewriter will not work as it's a mind issue and not a tool issue imo.

[michaelt]

The typewriter is them dealing with it.

Isolating oneself from outside distractions to help concentration is nothing new - libraries have provided quiet places for studying for aeons.

[helij]

I understand to a degree but there's always 'but'.

How is typewriter any different than fullscreen text editor? You can have a quiet room with a computer no?

What I'm saying is, if they don't work on themselves, a physical device won't help long term imo. Eventually they will land back on distractions.

[cgriswald]

I don’t think this is true. They might struggle with distractions elsewhere but if they’ve created a ritual out of writing in this distraction free environment they’ve created it will probably always work for them (and maybe better over time). Having the experience of doing things without distraction might also help them ignore distractions elsewhere.

By way of analogy, learning to swim in calm waters helps you learn to swim in rough waters by giving you the experience of what swimming is even like.

[lanstin]

For a long time I blamed myself for things being difficult. But self knowledge surely includes knowledge of how conditions affect your nervous system. Totally plausible a given nervous system works better with a typewriter than any networked device. Even like when you have to take a break from the thinking you will be more productive pacing or taking a walk on the grounds than flipping over to y combinator.

Make it easy to be good isn't just a parenting precept, it works to manage yourself as a mature adult as well.

[notjulianjaynes]

I read an anecdote once that novelist Jonathan Franzen writes on a laptop which has had the WiFi card removed and Ethernet port glued shut. He's pretty successful so whatever works imo.

[deanishe]

Why the quiet room?

Should you not rather train yourself not to be distracted by the noise like you train yourself not to be distracted by notifications?

[navjack27]

As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of two and have dealt with it my entire life I gotta completely agree with you. The quest for quiet is impossible. You will never have completely stimulus free environments. The way our bodies work competes against this whole idea. If you're in a dark room your eyes adjust. If you are in a quiet room your ears basically have a compressor built in. Everything that was in the shadow or in the quiet will eventually make itself known. Thrive in noise, thrive in distraction, thrive in chaos.

Edit: but one thing that is incredibly important is partitioning your workspace. Perform work where work should be performed and keep that separate from where you automatically do leisure activities or seek out pleasurable distractions.

[talldayo]

That feels a bit like saying you disagree with farm automation so you fired your oxen and pull the plow yourself now.

There's no need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. I'm empathetic to the people that feel like they can't focus in commercial operating systems, but their only option is to adapt or fall off. Making MacOS or Windows into a usable and non-distracting environment is basically the only way I have been able to make money in the tech industry. If I told my boss I was switching to a typewriter for efficiency purposes, I'd be gone before the end of the day.

[satvikpendem]

How is a typewriter going to help you run an IDE? They're two orthogonal things you're comparing.

[talldayo]

It doesn't even need to be code; I simply can't turn in work physically. If I type out my project notes or Kaizen report in a typewriter, I'll be asked to make a digital copy next. This isn't just programming, everywhere you go is digital-first and would vastly prefer a digitized copy from the start as opposed to OCRing a photo of my typewritten document.

Again - for personal use, go crazy. Nostalgic stuff is fun! This is not a solution for 90% of the workforce though and I would argue that relying on a typewriter for isolation is harming your professional prospects. Apply to any job and compare the reactions you get bringing your typewriter to the first interview with the reactions you get from bringing your laptop.

[satvikpendem]

You're arguing a strawman, no one said anything about using a typewriter professionally.

[filleduchaos]

Nah, if you don't set up on a train station platform and do all your work from there you simply have a mind issue and should learn how to deal with distractions

[mrguyorama]

Career writers have been using "dumber" text editors and computer systems to better mentally isolate their work for decades. It's not even an attention thing.

[post-it]

Why? What works, works.