Denis Baron’s From Pencils to Pixels..” was an interesting piece that he wrote, in regards to the relationship between technology and literacy. He discusses how technology has impacted the way we perceive literacy now, and how dependent we are towards our computers.
He starts off his essay by talking about how Google started a project in 2002, where they attempted to have many texts available online, like an online library. Although it did cause several copyright issues along the way, it still managed to grow and become successful as they expanded the amount of availability by signing off with multiple book publishers. He then transitions to how technology has affected not just literacy, but the people themselves as well. He claims that “more people are writing more; they are creating new genres of writing; and they have more control over what they write and how it is distributed (Baron).” Computers have definitely impacted our lives as a whole, considering the fact that we use them nonstop for instant messaging, emails, and many other work/leisurely uses. Many may argue that the traditional way of reading and literature is dying out because of the substitution of the digital text, but Baron begs to differ. He says that we are reading just the same amount, if not more; the only thing that did change was the ease of access of being able to control what and how we are reading, rather than how much we are reading.
He continues to augment his statement about the value of technology by saying how online advertisements have the ability to show us certain products that could be of our interest. He says that he “never told Amazon what I already own, nor have I ever rated an item, but I learned that I could do both if I wished..(Baron).” In other words, the keywords we provide with in search engines have grown to be able to satisfy us consumers by showing products of our interest.
I personally found this piece of literature as introspective and straightforward. It was refreshing to read a response from a person who solely believed that technology has advanced and is growing only for the better. I feel that his supporting statements, facts, and statistical evidence all successfully bolstered what he had to say. Most importantly, I feel that it possibly has brought a new insight towards the readers, because I know that it definitely did to me. I never realized how attached we have grown to become towards our technology, and have managed to control what we can access because of it.
Cite: http://www.english.illinois.edu/-people-/faculty/debaron/482/482readings/12%20pencils%20to%20pixels.pdf
No comments:
Post a Comment