With civilization, the world is forging ahead with
history not being repeated, but with rhymes of modern inventions. Humans use
writing implements to record and convey their thoughts and feelings. The
recorded information is what generations yet unborn as at the time of writing
read and use to know about who they are, and what has transpired in the past.
The history of writing implements dates back to around 4000BC. Man keeps a
record by scratching the surface of clay tablet with a bronze or bone tool.
Thereafter, the Egyptians developed writing on papyrus scrolls using thin
brushes, and subsequently was writing on parchment with a quill pen. The
invention of metal pen point, fountain pen, ball point pen and roller ball pens
changed writing styles as they evolved. In 1997, was the evolution of ring pen,
which do not require three fingers for gripping (Grandee Corp., n.d.).
However,
technological advancement in terms of record keeping has made use of pens to be
obsolete. People now keep records on their computers, and where such records
are of utmost importance, external storage devices are used for safe-keeping
and ease of access. The miniaturization of the storage devices enables people
to carry their records around. The impact of the various inventions rekindles
something from the distant past (Laureate Inc., 2009). The storage devices
rekindle the clay tablets used to record and store information over 6000 years
ago. Moving forward, do people really need to carry physical devices? Will
technology allow people to retrieve their information anywhere at the touch of
just a button? This leads to Kelly’s opinion on codependency stating “Total
personalization in this new world will require transparency”. I do not want consider
a touch (biometrics) or “Google it”, but probably ability to talk with a
machine (voice recognition) and retrieve my information anywhere I go. I do not
need any writing implement, be it a pen or keyboard. The “Cloud” serves as the
tablet, papyrus and paper of old. Would this fall in place with Kelly’s idea
“Humans are going to be the extended senses of a machine” or McLuhan’s idea
“Machines are the extended senses of humans”?
References
Grandee Corp. (n.d.). History of Writing
Instruments. Retrieved October 8, 2012 from http://www.ringpen.com/history.html
Kelly, K. (2007, December). Kevin Kelly on the next
5,000 days of the Web [Speech]. Speech delivered at the EG 2007 Conference, Los
Angeles. Retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html
Laureate
Education, Inc. (Producer). (2009). Rhymes of History[Video webcast]. Retrieved from http://mym.cdn.laureate-media.com/Walden/EDUC/8848/03/downloads/WAL_EDUC8848_03_C_EN-CC.zip
Aderonke,
ReplyDeleteI explored a similar line of innovation in regards to the digital pen. Although many areas can do away with written records, there are some exceptions. Many of our legal documents still require a signature as proof of agreement or at least acknowledgment. This device address this need. In the future, this may well progress into a digital fingerprint or retinal scan. Until that technology takes over, however, we have the Smartpen to tide us over.
I love the history of written expression that you have included. This gave me a reference point to the rhymes of history. This is a great post on the integration of technology in to our daily lives.
Jeri
Thanks for your feedback. Our minds are working at the same frequency. I do agree with you the importance of physical signing of legal documents, but you have said it all, a digital fingerprint or retinal scan will fulfill that purpose. I want to believe that future is just around the corner.
DeleteAderonke, I am humorously, but academically struck by your observation about how human beings will become more "machine-like" with the incorporation of newer technologies. Obviously, we will not all become characters from Star Trek, but the observation is insightful concerning how human nature itself could be redefined. Who one knows is now a matter of looking at someone's facebook friends list, Android phone contacts or call history more than previous eras centered in direct inter-personal interaction. How do you see human anthropology itself changing over the next generation as we shift in our perceptions of human relationships built primarily upon technological inter-connectedness?
ReplyDeleteYour review of the history of storage devices was very informative. I agree that modern storage devices are rhymes of history, however I think that pens or writing devices will be around for a long time to come. Hotels and other businesses would be hard pressed to come up with another form of cheap advertising, and parents would prefer to replace, on a weekly basis, pens, rather than tablet pc’s for their ten year old.
ReplyDeleteI was recently introduced to the latest version of the pen- an electronic pen, a device which functions as an ordinary pen , but also records everything that it writes down. It has a camera , a microphone, and a micro ports which can transfer everything that you write down to your computer.
I suspect that pens will continue to evolve instead of becoming obsolete altogether.