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
