Architecture and digital drawing tablets, bringing back human control over HAL

Architectural imagery and design are nowadays pervaded by computerization, consequently freehand drawing suffered a drastic decline. This paper reviews the advantages and drawbacks of digitalization, examines the reasons of the reborn need for freehand drawing and reports about published evidence of creativity being facilitated by hand movement. A new drawing medium is now available in the form of digital tablets. These allow freehand drawing with more ease and efficiency than on paper but hand movements and feeling are the same as in traditional drawing. Aim of this paper is to provide the basis for a proposal to merge advantages of digitalization with creativity stemming from freehand drawing by the use of modern digital drawing tablets in architecture. The preliminary results of a pilot survey carried out in 8 countries revealed that there is a widespread need for architectural academic courses of freehand drawing on digital tablets, so far not implemented. It is expected that the survey may be completed in the next few months and a wider sample may provide more detailed indications. In conclusion it is proposed that the digital tablets may be the future solution for a fruitful union between the digital and the creative imagery in architecture.