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The best gadgets are simple ideas, that fulfil a particular purpose. Some gadgets can stay the same since the moment of inception, or gradually evolve along with developing technologies. The wheel, for example, is one of those inventions that has stayed the same pretty much since its invention. Sure, you could argue that tyres have been added, and the materials it is made from have been changed, but the basic idea, “a circular device that is capable of rotating on an axle through its centre, facilitating movement or transportation while supporting a load (mass), or performing labour in machines” to quote the definition on Wikipedia, has remained the same since the time of, or close to the time of its invention. The futility of trying to revolutionise such a basic yet useful item is evidenced in the phrase “trying to re-invent the wheel”.

Another gadget that has remained largely the same is the humble pencil. In fact other than the original lead being replaced by graphite, pencils have pretty much remained the same. Or at least they have, until now.

That’s right, Sharpie, those well known manufacturers of permanent markers have devised a liquid graphite that writes like a pen, but can be erased like pencil, at least until it dries, after about 24 hours according to the review at Engadget or 3 days according to the packaging, when it becomes permanent like a Sharpie marker.

Just think, a pencil that never needs sharpening, a pen that can be erased, and a permanent marker that, at first, isn’t so permanent.