WAW: Baron Reading

Baron Reading

Summary: This reading basically talks about how technology is shaping the nature of writing. Computer I see are the main point for this happening because its so abundant through society. Also, this goes against what Baron is saying, but I think technology is making us worse writer at a fast rate because technology just fixes everything for us.

Synthesis: I am a perfect example for technology making us worse writers and I realize that because   I can tell from when I'm writing on a computer and then I go to write on paper and I just have a bunch of misspelled words and punctuation mistakes. Its so hard to get away from it because my generation is so used to using technology. We don't really think about it twice because technology is a main part in our lives

Questions for Discussion and Journaling

1: I don't agree with Barons statement about new technologies not changing the shape or nature of how we write. For example Baron uses Word Processor as an example, when I started using word processor I took it for granted. I seemed to misspell word all the time on word processor, but it didn't matter because Word Processor always fixed it for me. So, when I transferred from writing on a computer to writing on paper I would usually spell many words wrong because I have got so use to having them fixed. Another example I have is texting. I know its been around for awhile, but it has become more abundant lately. Sometimes when I'm writing papers I catch myself using texting lingo and I don't even realize it. Those are two ways technologies have changed the shape and nature of my writing.

4: One technology that comes to mind that had always been used in the old days, but has become obsolete for some time now is the typewriter. I would say the typewriter made you a really good writer because if you ever screwed up, it was a process to fix your error, rather than just pressing back space on a computer. I almost think technology can make books obsolete in the near future. I know I really don't read anything anymore unless its mandatory. I have the computer, ipod, or some people use tablets to read on. I think one thing that these objects have in common counting a pencil also, is that all of them take more effort to use or read than what we are used to today. Instead of a pencil breaking and using a sharpener we can make a simple click to make more lead appear, or instead of making countless mistakes on a typewriter and having to go through a process to fix your error, you can just hit a simple button on the computer to make an error go away, lastly instead of going to go look for information in a book you can just easily look it up on the computer.

Applying and Exploring

3: The only thing that I can think of that records conversation is a common tape recorder for lectures. They probably have made them more advanced now than a tape recorder, but its a useful tool when you want to go over things and you don't have the greatest memory. Not keeping records of communication would not allow you to recall information as easily as you did if you did record them. Nothing comes to mind when I think about any communication technologies that don't keep a record that we could still recognize as writing. That question is actually kind of confusing to me.

Meta Moment

I almost always thing of writing as technology because if I'm ever writing something important is mainly on a computer because its easier to write and easier to store than writing information on a piece of paper. If anything I could see writing on a piece of paper with a pencil become obsolete because technology is moving at such a fast rate we cant keep up with it.