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.