Should Everybody Write? the Destabilizing Technologies of Communication by Dennis Byron, Book Review Example

This article exposes the reader to thinking about the necessity of writing on paper as against technology within a computer literate society. The author poses this rhetorical question and then supports it by suggesting that this be the concern of everyone viewing the cyberjunk permeating the World Wide Web.

Further, arguments put forward in the author’s contention is that traditional technologies such as the pen, writing press and typewriters have all served their term in establishing renowned authors. However, modern technologies have now proven these gestures unnecessary as globalization and social change replace old ways of applying writing skills.

A remarkable advantage cited in the traditional writing patterns was that authors used their creativity to build knowledge by designing text rather than copying from the World Wide Web available on computers. Computers undoubtedly, have expanded the author’s world since information can be obtained readily through internet searches.

David Byron then establishes a premise showing where internet has nonetheless to some extent thwarted creativity. The author referenced the work of renowned writers such as Socrates, Plato, Thoreau and Susan Stones. Further comparisons to the expansion of authorship through computerized technology were made to Harry Potter, Ilbert de Lacy Seal, Gutenberg Bible, Martin Luther and Mark Twain. The author drew inferences to famous writing arts, which have been combined into computer technology as writers produce quality writing being assisted by the World Wide Web. The contention is that while technology may hinder certain types of creativity used in hand writing skills, the phenomenon of writing and authorship opportunities are expanded and the industry benefits.