Week 3 The Networking of Public Space Comment

The editor of the book Networked Public edited by Kazys Varnellis and contributor writer Anne Friedberg directs our attention on page 16 and 17 to the theorist Jurgen Habermas in his writings of the early 18^th century describes how people gathered in café’s or coffeehouse’s in Europe to discuss the gossip but more importantly the news media of the day. Through distribution of pamphlets which is the vehicle Thomas Paine in the 1760 and 1770s printed himself in his spare time and distributed copies of his famous publication “Common Sense” throughout the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania which inspired America’s founding fathers to fight for freedom. Mr. Paine himself would congregate with others in coffeehouses mostly gin mills or pubs and debate the arguments of the times. I mention Paine  as one of many examples that we must look back at history in order to learn how information is acquired and transmitted, during this era information was communicated through the printing of broadsheets—a publishing term for a newspaper printed (wide sheet) and an example is the New York Times. NOTE: Thomas Paine has had an effect on my reading and writing during my undergraduate work at SUNY Sullivan and Empire how the printed word can influence others in open discussions both online classes and social media.

 

I ask the question: How did an 18^th century theorists Jurgen Habermas foresee the future how people would gather in public spaces? Some 300 years later since his writings people converge in coffeehouses around the world and gather in isolation (hyper-individualism) using cell phones and laptop computers. Finally, I’m looking forward further into the 21^st century how people will communicate by electronic means.

 

SIDEBAR: I prefer to speak to others in person either in person or phone.

Technology Enhanced Learning

In reading the publication Technology Enhanced Learning, I found myself an better informed individual of digital literacy. My background is the printing industry which all started when I graduated from the New York School of Printing a vocational-technology high school in 1972. Our curriculum material studies were movable metal type on a manual printing press, art and design, photography, and offset printing methods on press, in addition to our academic studies. I’m self taught in desktop publishing. I’m by no means a computer geek but I adapt to new challenges well. As the publication states on page 6 “A revolution in communication” which I witnessed firsthand. As I read further into digital literacies I learned additional terms of technology. What has become interesting—digital literacy is a necessary skill students of all ages must learn to complete all levels of education. In the work place whatever the occupation computers are everywhere, employees must adapt or find themselves in meaningless employment.

In reading the publication Technology Enhanced Learning, I found myself an better informed individual of digital literacy. My background is the printing industry which all started when I graduated from the New York School of Printing a vocational-technology high school in 1972. Our curriculum material studies were movable metal type on a manual printing press, art and design, photography, and offset printing methods on press, in addition to our academic studies. I’m self taught in desktop publishing. I’m by no means a computer geek but I adapt to new challenges well. As the publication states on page 6 “A revolution in communication” which I witnessed firsthand. As I read further into digital literacies I learned additional terms of technology. What has become interesting—digital literacy is a necessary skill students of all ages must learn to complete all levels of education. In the work place whatever the occupation computers are everywhere, employees must adapt or find themselves in meaningless employment.

Commentary on Digital Culture

There have been several major communication revolutions over the centuries beginning with the invention of the printing press with movable type by Johann Gutenburg in 1436 which changed the way the printed word was produced versus handwritten text. This slow process changing of letters and printing one sheet at a time was a major breakthrough how mankind communicated. The next advancement of communications was the first electrical telegraph in April 1839 by Sir William Fothergill Cooke and Alexander Graham Bell in February 1876 invented the telephone.

 

Fast forward to modern times two examples are: the inventions of radio and television are forms of communications, in the right context both serve a worthwhile purpose in communicating the spoken word. All of the above has contributed to the advancement of communication. The turning point in “new literacy’s culture” is the creation of the digital age of the early 1990s right up to the present time and going into the future.

 

Finally, as of this writing in September 2016 the digital revolution has created a meaningful participatory culture via texting via cell phones, blogs, discussions boards, and social media etc. We as a society are communicating more than ever before in the history of mankind.

In the book, Literacies Social, Cultural and Historical Perspectives by Michele Knobel and Colin Lankshear early in chapter one two subjects that caught my attention: literacy and illiteracy. Up to the mid 1950s only third world countries were referred to or having adult illiteracy. Interestingly enough in the United States during the 1940s  as World War II progressed more and more men were needed for military service it was this all branches of the military rejected soldiers’ and sailors were rejected for poor reading and writing skills. (Knobel & Lankshear, 2011, pg 4.) I mentioned this fact because; adult and child illiteracy was put aside and not in the public eye in the U.S. only until recent times children and adult literacy has become a recognized issue.

 

Reference:

Knobel, M., & Lankshear, C. (2011). Literacies Social, Cultural and Historical Perspectives. New York, NY: Peter Lang.