biro

A biro is a ballpoint pen, a writing instrument that dispenses ink through a small rotating ball at its tip. The ball picks up viscous ink from a reservoir and, as the pen moves across paper, rotates to transfer the ink to the writing surface. The mechanism reduces smearing and enables smooth, continuous writing, making ballpoints more portable and low-maintenance than fountain pens. Most ballpoints use oil-based inks, though some modern variants employ gel or hybrid formulations.

History and origins: The device traces to László Bíró, a Hungarian journalist who in the 1930s observed that newspaper ink dried quickly and proposed using a ballpoint mechanism. He and his brother György Bíró developed a prototype and filed a patent in 1938. After licensing to manufacturers in the late 1930s and during World War II, ballpoint pens entered widespread production in the 1940s. The name 'biro' became a generic term for ballpoint pens in several regions, notably in the United Kingdom, while 'birome' was used in Argentina.

Design and variants: Ballpoints come in retractable and capped designs, with tip sizes typically ranging from about 0.5 to 1.2 millimeters. Refills allow continued use and reduce waste. Modern pens are produced by numerous brands and may include ergonomic grips, ink flow controls, or pressurized variants for writing in challenging conditions. Gel and hybrid pens are related technologies that use different inks but operate on the same basic principle.

Impact and usage: Biro pens achieved widespread adoption in offices, schools, and industry due to reliability, affordability, and portability. They influenced writing practices and documentation norms. Environmental considerations include plastic bodies and disposable cartridges, prompting development of refillable and recyclable designs.