Writing just became easier

In 1894, (12/04) George Parker was issued a U.S. patent for a fountain pen design that became the Parker Pen Company's first major success. The Lucky Curve was designed to solve the problem that previous pens had. They retained ink in the feed tube. Warmed by body temperature, the ink expanded forcing ink from the pen point into the cap and onto the barrel, causing soiled fingers on next use. The Lucky Curve design used capillary attraction to completely drain ink from the feed tube. Parker held several earlier fountain pen patents since his first on 10 Dec 1889. In Feb 1892, with partner W.E Palmer, he incorporated the Parker Pen Company to market his pens, and he continued to focus on making design improvements.
The history of writing devices since
1888-1916
The principle of the ball point pen actually dates from the late 19th Century when patents were taken out by John Loud in 1888 for a product to mark leather and in 1916 by Van Vechten Riesberg. However neither of these Patents were exploited commercially.
1940s
The modern version of ball point pen was invented by Josef (Lazlo) and Georg Biro.

The Summer of 1943 the first commercial models were made. The rights to Lazlo's patent were bought by the British Government. The ball point pen is more rugged than the fountain pen which may be why sales rocketed during World War II when the Military needed robust writing implements to survive the battlefield environment.

October 1945
The ball point pen was introduced to the U.S. market. The pen was sold as "The first pen to write underwater" this must have been an unsatisfied demand as some 10,000 were sold at the launch at Gimbel's department store in New York on October 29th 1945.
1953
First inexpensive ball point pens were available when the French Baron, Bich, developed the industrial process for manufacturing ball point pens that lowered the unit cost dramatically (BIC, Co.)

Today we have a plethora of pens to choose from. There are gel pens, rubber pens, no-grip ring pens, etc.
With the advent of the computer, writing with pens has declined. For a quick note, signatures or tests, pens will always be needed. However, when future historians study today's civilization they will rarely find the treasured diary or love letter which gives people a glimpse into their ancestor's lives. A rare hard drive could uncover some information but not the personal, day to day historic life we love to read about. The digital age makes things easier but we lose a part of our past and present as a result.