human thinking via paper or computer?

Throughout the last hour at work i have been designing an extension to an existing web application, what pages link to each other, what values are passed on the query string, where post-backs must occur and database connections are opened close – that sort of thing. I have found several times now that it is far easier to think and ‘brainstorm’ on paper and with peers away from the computer than it is using MS Visio or word to write your thoughts, ideas, diagrams etc…

I don’t think it is the software at fault, is it more a psychological thing?

Why is it far easier to think and express your thoughts on paper than it is when on a computer? I know others who feel the same too including old tutors at college as well as some Maths lecturers I have spoken too…

Do we associate computers with remedial tasks and this is blocking the left side of our brain? Does pointing & clicking a mouse interfere with thinking?

I just thought i would place a seed for thoughts to spring from with this post…..

msn messenger observation

I was talking to a friend online using msn a moment ago, he signed out of msn and I had not noticed this and kept on talking away (i was watching a youTube vid @ the time)…

just an observation… but wouldnt it be easy to grey the speaking area (lower pane) or send a message to the sent messages panel that ‘John has signed out’ to alert users instead of the small message on the top of the panel which you wouldnt easily notice if you were ‘appear offline’ as it wouldnt pop up as it would just change text…

just a thought