A Better Pencil.. (part 1)

I found this quite an interesting read. Through the reading we can see the first uses of writing up to how we use writing today. For everything! Important or not, it seems as though we write down most everything. Either typed out on our computer or printed out by hand. After reading these few chapters, it is easy to say that we have it easy. As each stage of writing passes, the next stage gets more efficient. And right now, I feel writing is at its most efficient stage. Going from carving out stone tablets, to using papyrus, to pencil and paper and now to digital writings has really sped up the process it takes to write or publish something substantial.

It also raises the question as to the importance of hand writing. As long as I remember we have had computers in school. When I was in third grade I remember every week we would go to the computer lab and do typing lessons. My teacher didn’t want us to end up like her… a hunt and peck typer. This was also the same year I learned how to write in cursive. What a coincidence. Aside from having to write cursive in school, to merely show that I knew how to write it, I have never needed to use it, besides signing my name occasionally. If I was learning to type at age 8 or 9, how young are children learning these skills today. Will they even spend much time learning to hand write or will that become a thing of the past?? Personally, I prefer to hand write some things. Sometimes my ideas just flow better that way. This is not true for everyone though. Written notes and typed out letters are more and more common these days.

I wonder how many people actually get hand written letters in the mail anymore. Has that become a past-time?? I enjoy getting letters in the mail. When I get a letter in the mail, which is not too often, I think of it as something really special.

It seems as though most everyone is doing away with hand writing. From paying bills online, sending email instead of letters in the mail, scheduling things on the calendar of their phone. We are going paperless. If this is the case, what will be the next stage of writing?? It’s something to think about.