If your finger often misses the correct letter on the telephone keypad, consider a stylus pen. This instrument takes over the work of the fingers. Aim more accurately and only hit the right characters.
What is a stylus?
A stylus is a touch pen. Usually with the dimensions of an average writing pen, sometimes smaller. But unlike a normal ball or fountain pen, one end of a stylus can work with the touchscreen of a smartphone, tablet or laptop.
How does a stylus work?
If you press the screen of a smartphone or tablet with a normal pen or pencil, you will not get a response. But those who try it with a stylus pen do. This is because the stylus has a rubber or silicone end. Like a finger, this material can generate electrical voltage on the screen. For example, you can easily tap apps, browse a gallery and type a message in WhatsApp.
Active Stylus
Nowadays, a distinction is made between an ‘active’ or ‘passive’ stylus. The passive variant is described above: a handy instrument for tapping on a touch screen.
An active stylus feels and looks like a normal pen, but is equipped with electronics. As a result, you don’t just use the pen to tap the screen, but more like you would use a normal pen. You can draw and write with it on a touch screen and the tip of the pen is pressure sensitive. What an active stylus can do depends on the app that is started. For example, drawing is only possible within a special drawing program. Examples of an active stylus are the Apple Pencil (suitable for iPad/iPhone) and the Microsoft Surface Pen (suitable for Windows laptops with a touchscreen).
Which one do I choose?
Due to the built-in electronics, an active stylus is many times more expensive than a passive version. So if you are looking for no more than simple touch screen operation, opt for a passive stylus. These are already available for a few euros; the active styluses easily cost 50 to 150 euros.