---
title: Does Removing Pen Pressure in Cost-Cutting Pen Designs Matter for Handwritten Learning in Education? A Case Study of Geometry Problem Solving
tags:  #筆圧  
author: [Nakamura Laboratory (Meiji University)](https://www.docswell.com/user/nkmr-lab)
site: [Docswell](https://www.docswell.com/)
thumbnail: https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/LJ1Y1LXVEG.jpg?width=480
description: Digital handwriting is increasingly used in educational settings; however, many classroom styluses omit pen pressure sensitivity due to cost and procurement constraints. While prior work has shown that pen pressure supports written arithmetic, its role in other learning activities remains insufficiently understood. In this study, we investigate how pen pressure–based stroke modulation affects problem-solving performance in digital handwriting, using geometry problems as a case study. We conducted a between-subjects experiment comparing pressure-sensitive and non-pressure-sensitive conditions in tasks requiring spatial reasoning and iterative diagram construction. Although overall accuracy did not differ significantly between conditions, detailed analyses revealed that the absence of pen pressure disproportionately affected lower-performing participants and reduced accuracy in unfamiliar or cognitively demanding problems. In solid geometry tasks, the non-pressure-sensitive condition also resulted in longer completion times. Qualitative analyses further showed that pen pressure enabled effective visual organization and depth representation, whereas its absence led participants to adopt compensatory diagramming strategies, such as relocating annotations outside figures. These findings indicate that omitting pen pressure is not a cognitively neutral design decision. Pen pressure functions as a representational resource that supports exploratory reasoning and visual organization in digital handwriting, with important implications for the design of educational input devices and learning environments.
published: June 17, 26
canonical: https://www.docswell.com/s/nkmr-lab/ZDMWQ8-2026-06-17-143818
---
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Does Removing Pen Pressure in
Cost-Cutting Pen Designs Matter
for Handwritten Learning in
Education? A Case Study of
Geometry Problem Solving
Yuki Miyazaki, Sari Kobayashi, Satoshi Nakamura(Meiji Univ.)
Akiyuki Kake(Wacom Co Ltd.)


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Background
Digital devices are increasingly being introduced into
educational settings.
However, the digital pen environment in education is still
not sufficiently developed.
Handwriting Does Not Have to Be Beautiful, But... Note-Taking Skills Elementary School Students Should
Develop https://s.resemom.jp/article/2017/03/22/37196.html
ict-enews Editorial Department. (March 5, 2018). What happened at an elementary school on Hachijo
Island where each student got a tablet PC / Tokyo. https://ict-enews.net/2018/03/mitsune/
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The Digital Pen Environment in Education
Even when expensive tablets are provided, stylus pens are
not always provided.
Students may use fingers or low-cost pens.
Is this really good for learning?
Kagoshima City Hoshiminami Nishi Elementary School. (July 11, 2022). 【Educational
Informatization】Request Regarding Individual Purchase of Pens for Tablets.
Shinagawa City. (February 26, 2021). Ooi Daiichi Elementary School implements classes utilizing tablet
devices | Shinagawa City.
2


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Pressure Sensitivity
YES
NO
$129
$79
Pro (Apple)
usb-c (Apple)
$19
$2〜10
Classroom Pen2
Affordable Pen
(Microsoft)
Affordable pens without pen pressure detection may
be used in schools.
However, the impact of removing pen pressure
detection remains unclear.
3


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Pen Pressure 〜stroke darkness variation〜
Calculation
Geometry diagrams
Pressure-sensitive
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Pen Pressure 〜stroke darkness variation〜
Pressure-sensitive
Non-pressure-sensitive
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Prior Work
Pressure-sensitive
Non-pressure-sensitive
Lower accuracy in division tasks without
pen pressure sensitivity[Kobayashi+, ʻ25]
Differences in visibility may have contributed to this
decrease in accuracy
Sari Kobayashi, Yuto Sekiguchi, Riho Ueki, Satoshi Nakamura, Akiyuki Kake. Does Representing Pen Pressure Improve Handwritten Calculation Accuracy?,
29th International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems, Vol.270, pp.2808-2817, 2025.
6


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Geometry Problem
Pen pressure may be especially important during
trial-and-error problem solving.
In geometry problems, stroke darkness modulation may
help learners organize various visual elements.
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Research Purpose
Investigating the effect of pressure-based
stroke darkness modulation on
geometry problem solving
Hypothesis
Pressure-based stroke darkness modulation
supports more effective problem solving than
fixed stroke appearance
8


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Experiment
Geometry problem-solving tasks using a tablet and stylus
Between-subjects comparison:
Pressure-sensitive vs. Non-pressure-sensitive conditions
Participants:
38 undergraduate and graduate students
Pressure-sensitive: 19
Non-pressure-sensitive: 19
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Experiment Procedure
4 plane geometry problems
2 solid geometry problems
Fixed problem order for all participants
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Task Design for Geometry Problem Solving
1. Repeated Drawing and Annotation
e.g., lines and angles
2. Use unfamiliar problems
without new conceptual learning
3. Use only basic geometry knowledge
e.g., angle sum and parallel lines
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Task Design for Geometry Problem Solving
Design Point 1: Repeated Drawing and Annotation
Tasks involve many lines and angle annotations.
This may lead to trial and error during problem solving.
Example: ABCD is a square. Find the measure of angle x.
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Task Design for Geometry Problem Solving
Design Point 2: Use Unfamiliar Problems
Well-known problems may be solved without trial and error.
→ We created original unfamiliar problems.
Example: A problem with a well-known solution method
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Task Design for Geometry Problem Solving
Design Point 3: Use Only Basic Geometry Knowledge
Advanced knowledge may cause differences in performance.
→ We used only basic geometry knowledge.
Example: Triangle angle sum: 180 / Equal angles from parallel lines
Angle sum: 180°
Equal angles
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Plane Geometry Problems
Problem: Points A, B, C, D, E, F, and G lie on circle O.
The following angles are given: " DAE=60 , GCE=40 ,
AFD=70 , BEG=40 , GCF=35 , CFD=30 , BGC=40 ,
ACD=100 , BEA=10 . " Determine themeasure of GBE.
※The seven points are arranged consecutively around the circle, eitherin clockwise or in
counterclockwise order from A to G.
※The interior angles of any triangle sum to 180 degrees.
Non-pressure-sensitive
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Solid Geometry Problems
Problem: Points A, B, C, D, E, and F lie on the surface of a
sphere. The following angles are given: " ABC=30 ,
BFC=30 , DCF=40 , ACB=60 , EDB=30 , BFD=60 ,
BDF=40 , BED=120 ". Determine the measure of EBF.
※Points A, B, C, and D are contained in one plane, while points B, E, and F lie in
another plane.
Non-pressure-sensitive
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Solid Geometry Problems
Auxiliary diagrams were provided in advance
to calibrate task difficulty
Auxiliary Diagram for
Problem 5
Auxiliary Diagram for
Problem 6
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Result 〜Accuracy Rate〜
The mean accuracy rate
Pressure-sensitive : 76.3%
Non-pressure-sensitive : 73.7%
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Result 〜Accuracy Rate〜
Higher Accuracy by Condition
Pressure-sensitive: Problems 1 and 5
Non-pressure-sensitive: Problems 2‒4
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Result 〜Completion Time〜
Completion Time by Condition
Non-pressure-sensitive: Problems 5 and 6 tended to take longer
Overall: No large difference
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Discussion
〜Distribution of Correct Answers〜
Non-pressure-sensitive condition:
• Lower first quartile
• More participants in the
low-performance range
The absence of pen-pressure-based stroke modulation may
disproportionately affect a subset of learners.
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Discussion
〜First-Encountered Problems〜
Problems 1 and 5:
Higher accuracy in Pressure-sensitive condition
First-encountered tasks in each
geometry set.
Pen-pressure-based stroke modulation
may be especially beneficial in unfamiliar
or cognitively demanding situations.
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Discussion
〜 Comparison of Two Conditions 〜
Pressure-sensitive
Light strokes for supporting lines
Non-pressure-sensitive
Mainly solid/dashed line distinction
and depth cues
Visibility may affect accuracy and completion time
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Discussion
〜 Drawing Errors Related to Poor Visibility 〜
Overlapping angle annotations made the angle information
hard to read.
BEG: 40 → interpreted as 30
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![Page Image](https://bcdn.docswell.com/page/YJ6WP3ZQJV.jpg)

Discussion
〜Strategic Use of Pen Pressure〜
Some participants used pen pressure in a special way.
They drew angle information with darker strokes.
→ Important information became easier to see.
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Discussion
〜Strategy Without Stroke Darkness〜
When stroke darkness was unavailable,
some participants placed angle information outside the figure.
Benefit: Easier to read
Limitation: Harder to match with the figure
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Conclusion
• Pen pressure may be important for unfamiliar
problems that require trial and error.
• Non-pressure-sensitive may make demanding geometry
tasks harder to read and solve.
• Removing pen pressure is not just a technical design
choice.
Future Work
• Isolate the effect of pressure-based stroke modulation.
• Examine how pen pressure affects learning unfamiliar
solution methods.
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Summary
Purpose
Investigating the impact of pen pressure modulation
on problem solving.
Method
Geometry Tasks under Pressure-Sensitive and
Non-Pressure-Sensitive Conditions.
Result
Differences appeared in first-encountered problems
that required trial and error.
Discussion Pen pressure may reduce misreading and
improve visibility.
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