Embodiments include a method, a manual device, a handheld manual device, a handheld writing device, a system, and an apparatus. An embodiment provides a system. The system includes a manual device. The manual device includes a first writing element operable to discharge a first marking substance on a surface in response to a movement of the first writing element upon the surface. The manual device also includes a second writing element operable to discharge a second marking substance on the surface in response to a controller. The controller is operable to encode information corresponding to an environment of the manual device by regulating a discharge of the second marking substance. The system also includes a sensor operable to acquire data indicative of an environment of the manual device.