Conclusion

I feel like this blog has covered the topic proposed quite effectively. I found various topics to discuss the effect of technology on writing, the extent that technology is included in writing, and the positive uses of technology in the writing process. This blog links a few sites that help illustrate this conclusion. I hope this blog can be used effectively by another.

The Writing Process and Technology Represented in WRTC 200

I first got the idea for this blog while sitting in class during a lecture given by WRTC professor Pavel Zemliansky, who was nonetheless entertaining. He discussed with the class about how writing has changed and is now represented heavily through writing on websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. I immediately was interested in this topic. In addition to Dr. Zemliansky coming to speak to my class, the textbook that I use for the course (Professional Writing and Rhetoric by Tim Peeples) also has a chapter focusing on technology. Within this chapter, one article ("The Shape of Text to Come: The Texture of Print on Screens" by Stephen A. Bernhardt) is about different aspects of how writing and reading have changed because of the transition to screen rather hard copy. One part of this article especially interested me because it directly linked to the topic I have been writing about in this blog. In this section of the article, Bernhardt is talking about how text is now "infinitely more fluid, expansive, and adaptable to individual uses." I agree with his statement. On-screen writing, versus hard copies, is easier to be used by readers because they can manipulate it to be more understandable. The reader can make fonts bigger, the paragraph lines to be bigger, and can also annotate the reading without permanently marking hard copies. Another aspect of writing that has been greatly influenced by technology is publishing. It is now easier to publish works to get out to broader audiences. According to Bernhardt, "Anyone can now design, display, and print work that is potentially indistinguishable from professionally printed work." This is a positive aspect of technology and the writing process. I think that if writers and editors used technology to its full advantage, then it could be very beneficial to our society. However, I also think we need to watch ourselves so we don't get too caught up in technology so we lose our identities.

Bernhardt, Stephen A. "The Shape of Text to Come: The Texture Print on Screens." College Composition and Communication 44 (May 1993).

Making Your Handwriting a Font

An issue that is focused upon when discussing technology and writing is the loss of personalization. However, there is a resolution to this problem. A user can now make their own handwriting a font. It's a bit extreme, but pretty cool. I'll let the video speak for itself: 

PilotHandwriting

Online Editing Technology

I must admit, I am a huge fan of StumbleUpon (www.stumbleupon.com). It's probably my #1 tool that I use for procrastination. Well, last night while I was doing my infamous "stumbling" on the Internet, I ran across a website that relates to this blog. The website is called AutoCrit Editing Wizard (http://www.autocrit.com/wizardformpage.php). Although this site is directed towards book editing, it could be useful for any kind of editing including articles, essays, and write-ups. It will give feedback and errors, overused words, sentence variation, and many other aspects. This software isn't recommended for use of editing any other writing except books. However, there are editing softwares out there for a variety of writing genres. Will this take away jobs as editors? I don't think so. There is no way that electronic editing could ever be the same as in-person editing. The writer wouldn't get as much feedback on content that they would like. Sure this software could improve the surface of one's work, but how could it analyze the meaning or how the audience would read it? As of right now, it couldn't. However, modern technology is improving rapidly and no one knows how sophisticated these softwares could become.

The Evolution of Communication - Writing, too?

I came across this image while surfing the Internet today. This cartoon was drawn by Mike Keefe for the Denver Post. Although it's titled The Evolution of Communication, I couldn't help but post it as a writing reference also. Not only does this emphasize the impact of technology on communication/writing, but it also emphasizes how communication and writing go hand-in-hand. I felt this was important because this is highlighted by the WRTC program. Ever since the first written word, writing has been used as a main form of communication. Although this has been an overall positive trend resulting in more effective and faster communication. However, this cartoon also emphasizes the downside to such trend. With modern social networking sites, where many people communicate through personal writing, many entries have to be cut down to a certain limit. This limits the thought process included in writing. Instead of people thinking thoroughly before sending a lengthy letter to another, they now send almost thoughtless less-than-ten-words responses to others. This has inhibited the writing process to a certain measure. I think this should be focused on when pursuing a writing career in the modern world. Most readers' attention spans have shortened, causing publications such as newspapers and magazines to cut articles down to keep their audience reading. This is an ongoing problem since the turn of modern technology.

Reference: http://jeffreyhill.typepad.com/english/2009/03/cartoon-the-evolution-of-communication.html

Writing in our Digital World

I decided to write a new post focusing on something different. I stumbled across the National Writing Project's Web site, then found the Digital Is site that they run. Long story short, this organization focuses on how to effective teach and improve writing in our digitally-enhanced world. They focus on how writing has expanded drastically due to new technologies. Although this project is geared more towards professional writers and educators, I feel students could learn from it as well. The National Writing Project includes a hefty list of resources that one could turn to. I am not going to take the time to explain each and every aspect of this site, but I strongly recommend you checking it out: NWP Digital Is

Technology and How it Improves Writing

As I was sitting here at my computer researching anything that has to do with technology and writing, I stumbled across an informative Web site focused on how writing is improved by technology. The Web site, linked below, comes straight from the Landmark College: Institute for Research and Training, a notable source due to their variety of studies. This Web site states that technology can help with writing in a variety of ways, including the brainstorming, organization, construction of the first draft, and the editing of the document. I agree with these claims fully. I believe that technology aids novice, as well as expert, writers by letting them get all of their thoughts written, organized, and edited. Unlike handwriting a first draft, a typed page does not have extensive erase marks, scratch-outs, or smudges upon printing. Also, word processing and predicting are very valuable tools today. As stated on the page, "By assisting spelling, word prediction enables students to focus more on content. At times, the spelling suggestions may even trigger the students' ideas, offering a direction for the next paragraph." I understand where the institute is coming from. Today, most writers don't stop and think how easy producing a document is compared to the past. Personally, I don't know what I would do without Microsoft Word and its features, including Spelling/Grammar Check (that feature's basically my best friend). Likewise, I don't know how I would be able to handle ripping off a page and starting over, as users of the typewriter had to do. I give kudos to Landmark College for producing this Web site. It helped me focus on how technology is beneficial to writing.

Landmark College