# \[IDEA\] A pen that draws edible food; thoughts?ideas? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2016, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046 "2016-10-09T12:16:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/21 "2016-10-10T16:14:54Z")
> [@eats\_sushi](#): > > an idea could be to draw a food item and the closest match of that item can match a food item in a database what would teleport that item to the relative location of the pen drawing If this teleportation system exists, why would anybody want to tie it in with the artistic abilities of the customers? Instead of a magic pen, why not have a magic microphone? You speak into it and tell it the name of the food you want and that food gets teleported to you. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/22 "2016-10-10T16:26:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **ioioio** : > > But why restrict such a great idea to food? Make it so that whatever you draw materializes. Everyone in the world could have everything they wanted – provided they could afford a pen. > > How much do you think this pen will cost? So you start by drawing another magic pen. Now the marginal cost of each pen is nearly zero, and so unless the owner wants to deliberately restrict it, very quickly everyone will have one. And if the owner does want to restrict it, he won’t be able to sell it for _any_ price, or it’ll eventually end up in the hands of someone who doesn’t want to restrict it. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/23 "2016-10-10T19:17:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So you start by drawing another magic pen. Now the marginal cost of each pen is nearly zero, and so unless the owner wants to deliberately restrict it, very quickly everyone will have one. And if the owner does want to restrict it, he won’t be able to sell it for _any_ price, or it’ll eventually end up in the hands of someone who doesn’t want to restrict it. \ Sorted. Never underestimate the lengths rights-holders will go to in order to defend their artificial scarcity. See also [Terminator Seeds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_use_restriction_technology). ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/24 "2016-10-10T20:02:11Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Instead of a magic pen, why not have a magic microphone? You speak into it and tell it the name of the food you want and that food gets teleported to you. They have that at my local Sonic… The best solution I have is [edible ink](https://www.inkedibles.com/edible-pens.php)and [rice paper](https://www.ink4cakes.com/Wafer-Paper-AD-00-100-Sheets?gclid=CjwKEAjw-Oy_BRDg4Iqok57a4kcSJADsuDK1b-FsJHQF26bdIA6_NCIQs0BS6RP_1hhzFKdloUSsPBoC68Xw_wcB). Probably not a lot of flavor variation, but then the OP didn’t ask for that. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2016, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/25 "2016-10-10T22:57:30Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If this teleportation system exists, why would anybody want to tie it in with the artistic abilities of the customers? > > Instead of a magic pen, why not have a magic microphone? You speak into it and tell it the name of the food you want and that food gets teleported to you. What about us southerners? I mean, I do work up an appetite cursing out google on my handset but I don’t want chit’luns when I distinctly asked for chicken. ---
**Author:** ![ioioio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ioioio/32/316_2.png) [@ioioio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ioioio)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/26 "2016-10-11T01:12:02Z")
Does this pen require batteries? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/27 "2016-10-11T02:53:35Z")
Here’s a demo of the 3Doodler, a 3-d pen. [3Doodler 3D Printing Pen Kickstarter Video - The World's First 3D Printing Pen (Official) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQWyhezIze4) Make the “ink” edible and flavored, and rake in the money! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/28 "2016-10-11T03:32:03Z")
You really could make a pen that draws hot sugar syrup that cools instantly. So you draw on an oiled metal sheet your caramel sugar drawing, and then pop it off. OK, I just did some googling, and it turns out this is already a thing. Only difference is this guy uses a spoon rather than a pen, but still. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/239GSmRW9XY/maxresdefault.jpg "Amazing Sugar Art by street master craftsman") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=239GSmRW9XY) ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/29 "2016-10-11T16:55:59Z")
> [@rowrrbazzle](#): > > Here’s a demo of the 3Doodler, a 3-d pen. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQWyhezIze4](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQWyhezIze4) > > Make the “ink” edible and flavored, and rake in the money! 😃 [We have that now.](http://2s3ygp2ortkl67oy1kogvig4.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Easy-cheese.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/30 "2016-10-11T17:14:48Z")
Is this where “drawn butter” comes from? ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2016, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/31 "2016-10-11T19:18:58Z")
\REALITY DOES NOT WORK THAT WAY\ ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/32 "2016-10-12T11:05:01Z")
I read a book all about this. They made a documentary out of the book called [Harold and the Purple Crayon](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVaOOgWyvJM) (YouTube 4:55). ETA: This magic pen can create anything at all… but go to 1:58 to see the food being created. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/33 "2016-10-12T12:53:48Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > This idea penalizes the poor artist. “I didn’t want a shoe! I wanted a steak!” [There are worse things that could happen to a poor artist trying to draw food with a magic pencil](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MjTb5A68VA)… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/34 "2016-10-12T13:33:19Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **gnoitall** : > > \ > Sorted. \ Ever notice how easy it is to circumvent copy-protection? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/35 "2016-10-12T17:53:07Z")
Maybe require that the pen has an always-on internet connection to verify registration? And if it loses the connection, your dinner crashes. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/36 "2016-10-12T18:19:02Z")
How about a menu with pictures of food. You point at the pic you want, soon it shows up on the table. This technology exists. It’s called a restaurant. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/37 "2016-10-12T20:32:34Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > How about a menu with pictures of food. You point at the pic you want, soon it shows up on the table. This technology exists. It’s called a restaurant. Bah. I can speak to a person remotely using electricity and the food i desire appears at my door. My takeaway laughs at your puny human ‘restaurant’. ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/38 "2016-10-12T21:19:28Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > \ > Ever notice how easy it is to circumvent copy-protection? What if you don’t know what the original looks like? If there’s only one, or the few there are happen to be tightly controlled, you don’t know what little piece you need. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2016, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/39 "2016-10-12T22:03:49Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > What if you don’t know what the original looks like? If there’s only one, or the few there are happen to be tightly controlled, you don’t know what little piece you need. That goes back to the original objections of the rather simplistic hypothetical: how does the pen know what I’ve really drawn? In this case, the copy-protection-defeating characteristics Chronos proposes would be hard for The Magic Pen to understand, just from being drawn. In a manner as fundamental as someone drawing an apple and getting a tomato. Though Chronos is right in principle: copy protection and counter-measures are a constant chess game. In any kind of magical post-scarcity environment (like The Magic Pen), enforcing artificial scarcity is difficult. Probably impossible, from a technical perspective, against a determined circumventor. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2016, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046/40 "2016-10-13T03:29:51Z")
> [@gnoitall](#): > > [Terminator Seeds](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_use_restriction_technology). modest hijack, this is truly terrifying and a terrible as ideas go, to me. I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idea-a-pen-that-draws-edible-food-thoughts-ideas/768046.md?page=3)