This is not true "handwriting," it is a printing of handwriting. This sort of practice is usually imperfect, and the fact that the note is not written at all is generally pretty conspicuous.
Frankly, I think that most people would view this as disingenuous. The whole point of handwritten cards is that their supposed to be, uhhh, handwritten. A printout of something written seems sort of perfunctory, and isn't really better than simply sending a typed note. Indeed, the fact that one is attempting to forgo the work of writing a real card and instead using something like this will just dilute the sentiment of the gesture and appear lazy.
I see your point, but isn't this part of the gradual change of customs? Should I be offended that your thank you note was written with the _convenience_ of a ballpoint pen instead of quill and ink? What about the fact that your _modern_ envelop was secured with nothing more than a quick lick to the factory-applied adhesive instead of a lovingly-applied wax seal?
I think what matters most is the hand-lettering, not how the ink got on the page. What you seem to be missing is the fact that the emotional impact of a handwritten card comes from the handmade letterforms of the writer, not the ink. This, of course, would preserve that.
I think you might be doing that "my default is to just find fault" thing that someone was writing about in a blog post that got submitted to HN in the last few days. This looks like a nice service, and while I would never send a handwritten card myself (I hate to write by hand), I would be touched to receive one of these, even if it had come out of a printer.
IMO, what matters most is how much effort the sender was willing to spend on sending the note. That's where the emotional impact comes from.
Because of that, people have learned to discriminate between modern computer print, classical printing, and handwriting (the latter two leave impressions on the paper), so that they can distinguish the real thing from, say, a personalized "Congratulations, mr. Smith, you have won a million" letter sent by some marketing department.
There's a service a lot of... how do I say... wannabe entrepreneurs and MLM people use called SendOutCards. It is meant to appear handwritten (you can choose between a few different fonts), and they use it to send cards for birthdays, 'thanks for the meeting', and mass mailings. THEY think it makes them appear like they care, like they're amazing, and like they took the time to write you a handwritten card.
You're not stupid, and after you've gotten a few of these, it's just pathetic and has the opposite effect. (Plus, SendOutCards is plastered all over the back of the card with a referral code so the person can sign you up - cause it's an MLM!)
Felt isn't trying to attract that same type of user. And it's actually your handwriting. I think, when it's real people genuinely using this to be real - it WILL come across with the right sentiment. I like what they're doing.
Great point. Please consider this as well: when you receive a card in the mail do you think about the person going to the store and buying the card or do you think it's special because it's a handwritten card?
At the end of the process a Felt card feels authentic. I'd love to write you one if you'd like. Just email me you address.
When someone gets a card from a store, writes it herself and sends it, it shows a certain amount of appreciation and worth to the one she sends it, not because it was bought in a store, handwritten and sent but because it costs time and effort. If you send a card in this way you are showing someone that he or she is worth that cost and thereby that this someone is important to you.
Felt will never feel as "authentic" as the very premise of the app is to reduce, if not eliminate, the reason for sending handwritten cards.
I agree a product like Felt might never feel as authentic as the real thing, but I don't think that's necessarily a problem.
Some people prefer to hand-write letters and will probably do so until they die. Some occasions require hand-written letters and will probably do so for a very long time to come. (Felt technically is hand-writing so I guess I mean non-digital hand-writing... Do we need to invent a new term?)
I don't think Felt is necessarily trying to compete with the above, it's simply trying to offer a middle-ground between text messages and inked letters. If we look at how quickly communication has changed (some might say devolved) over the last twenty years... wouldn't a product like Felt be a step in the right direction?
There wouldn't be much point in it if it wasn't easier than making an actual handwritten card. Handwritten cards consume an ordinarily large amount of time, but some people believe they are more authentic so there is a clear case for optimizing handwriting. As an added benefit, those who prefer handwriting will be able to receive these more often die to the reduced time and effort.
As novel as this app is, I agree. The only market I can see this app appealing to is teeny boppers that have no sense of etiquette.
What this app needs is a way to _design_ your own card, so there actually is a reason to have it digitally created. Think clipart + calligraphy with custom papers/stipling. Now you've got a real product.
Frankly, I think that most people would view this as disingenuous. The whole point of handwritten cards is that their supposed to be, uhhh, handwritten. A printout of something written seems sort of perfunctory, and isn't really better than simply sending a typed note. Indeed, the fact that one is attempting to forgo the work of writing a real card and instead using something like this will just dilute the sentiment of the gesture and appear lazy.