Mindsight Forum: Is Writing Important in the Tech age?

Is Writing Important in the Tech age? Log Out | Topics | Search | Forgot Password?
Moderators | Edit Profile

Mindsight Forum » Writers Board » Is Writing Important in the Tech age?

« Previous Next »

Closed: New threads not accepted on this page

Author

Message

Pacwriter
Unity Member
Post Number: 2976
Registered: 04-2002

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 03:46 pm:

It would seem the world is going audio and visual. The question becomes, "Are writing skills worth the effort in education?"

Speak into the microphone and the computer or telephone types and corrects. All necessary punctuation is inserted. Press a button and all text is turned into speech.

Writing is becoming obsolete. Can reading be far behind?

http://www.perrycomer.com

Stephen Lodge
Wisdom Member
Post Number: 533
Registered: 06-2004

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Friday, June 22, 2007 - 08:02 pm:

"Can reading be far behind?"

Reading is already there ~

http://www.stephenlodge.com
Novels by Stephen Lodge:
"Charley Sunday's Texas Outfit!"
"Nickel-Plated Dream"
"Shadows of Eagles"

Harry Simenon
Unity Member
Post Number: 1592
Registered: 10-2003

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Saturday, June 23, 2007 - 01:06 am:

I rather type than talk, and many with me. It is not always easyer to dictate (ask any dictator...)

Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number: 1942
Registered: 10-2002

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Saturday, June 30, 2007 - 10:40 pm:

The purpose of writing is to communicate. Of course, the most efficient means of communication is telepathy. In the distant future, when it becomes possible to communicate a thought via telepathy, runes and symbols will no longer be needed.

But I wouldn't worry about audio and visual communication replacing the written word. My first novel was 212 pages and took a slow reader a little more than 4 hours to read. Contrast this with the mp3 audio version which runs for 5 hours and 56 minutes. As for visual, television newscasts have far less content and in-depth coverage than newspapers.

http://www.fdungan.com/duke.htm

Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number: 801
Registered: 01-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 06:53 am:

Ah, Fred - you mentioned newspapers and television newscasts in the same sentence.

Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins

Gloria Marlow
Unity Member
Post Number: 1989
Registered: 04-2002

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 07:53 pm:

"Writing skills" as in picking up a pen or pencil instead of pounding away at a keyboard? Remember learning how to write in cursive?

or

"Writing skills" as in forming sentences into something readable and communicating effectively with the person reading whatever you've written? Like Memos for work, business letters, notes to Mom, etc.

or

"Writing skills" as in creating a work of fiction and or non-fiction for consumption by readers? Please know that I will never believe that anyone who can write a legible and/or understandable business letter can or should write a novel.

My answers:

If number 1, I don't think people will quit using pen and pencil completely. It's just too convenient to grab a pencil and a napkin to jot down a note. So far, I haven't found a computer to be that convenient. But the days of turning in handwritten reports on the job, manuscripts, professional letters, etc. are gone.

If number 2, it might. Already, we need to know less and less to format, proofread, etc. Plus, writing a note to mom or a business associate is fine, but 41 cents to mail is a lot compared to free emails. So, this is probably the most likely to be a yes.

If number 3, "No" a computer can't create to the extent the human mind can. It can't feel, and it can't make us feel, which is a necessary part of fiction.

Plus to all three, how can we so completely rely on computers and electronics when they depend on electricity, etc. to work? That is not very smart of us.

Gloria
www.gloriamarlow.com
Flowers for Megan**Shades of Silence**The Butterfly Game

Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number: 802
Registered: 01-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 08:51 pm:

Does #1 include the grocery list? I'd be lost without it. I'm not perfect even with it...tend to forget at least one thing on it, while buying a lot of stuff that's not there.

Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins

Gloria Marlow
Unity Member
Post Number: 1990
Registered: 04-2002

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Sunday, July 01, 2007 - 09:13 pm:

Oh, I just realized there was one last question in the initial post. I don't think reading will become obsolete. If it does, I hope I'm no longer around to see it.

Gloria
www.gloriamarlow.com
Flowers for Megan**Shades of Silence**The Butterfly Game

Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number: 1944
Registered: 10-2002

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, July 02, 2007 - 12:54 am:

I heartily agree. If reading becomes obsolete, then it follows that writers like us will be obsolete. Hopefully, that won't happen any time soon.

http://www.dunganbooks.com

Tom Elkins
Wisdom Member
Post Number: 803
Registered: 01-2005

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, July 02, 2007 - 07:16 am:

According to my kids I'm already obsolete.

Tom Elkins
NORTH of TEXAS
www.authorsden.com/tomelkins

Fred Dungan
Unity Member
Post Number: 1945
Registered: 10-2002

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, July 02, 2007 - 04:39 pm:

Your black lab doesn't think old timers who write books are all washed up and neither does mine. Dogs continue to love you even when everyone else acts as if you are over the hill. I can communicate more effectively with my assistance dog than I can with the people who work for me. Dogs may not be able to read minds, but they do a better job of sensing moods than most people. Too bad they can't read.

http://www.fdungan.com/speedo.htm

Todd Hunter
Mindsight Moderator
Post Number: 3627
Registered: 02-2003

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Monday, July 02, 2007 - 07:18 pm:

How do we know they can't?

Mindsight Moderator
Aston's Blog

a1206746381881 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: adsl196-190-249-217-196.adsl196-16.iam.net.ma

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Friday, March 28, 2008 - 05:42 pm:

a1209519747274 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 210.188.216.67

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2008 - 03:42 am:

Administration