Response to "From Pencils to Pixels"

            In his article “From Pencils to Pixels: The Stages of Literacy Technologies”, Dennis Baron claims that we overlook things as being technology that are in fact technology, such as pencils, other writing tools, the computer, and the telephone. He argues that we are so used to the technology we use that we no longer consider it technology.

            This article relates to Scott McCloud’s article “Vocabulary of Comics” in that both authors are showing us something that we would not normally look at in a certain light. McCloud speaks of icons and Baron speaks of technology that is usually overlooked.

            Overall I found this article kind of interesting. It is strange to look at a pencil and think, “wow this was ‘space age’ technology at one point.” I cannot think of anyone who would immediately see a pencil and think of it as technology.

Before You Read

            Technology to me would be something that is used/manufactured to make things easier in life. Examples would be cell phones, computers, and cars. I think at one point everything (non-natural) was a considered new technology.

Question for Discussion and Journaling

2.)

            I can definitely see technology changing the shape/nature of writing. Look at texting or instant messaging. We have a whole generation of people who are now typing in shorthand because it’s faster. People do this so often that it becomes second hand. So I would definitely have to say that technology changes the shape/nature of writing and I think that Baron would agree.