Pencils to pixels
Introduction
A pencil refers to a writing device made of graphite and wood while a pixel is the smallest image point of a visual displaying device. Technology has changed many things in the modern society. It has contributed in the elimination of illiteracy and ignorance from the society. In this regard, it has made access to information easier. For instance, the World Wide Web has turned the world to a small village, which any person can access at the click of a mouse. However, it took long to convince the conservatives about the benefits and of technology, the time has come for the benefits to be reaped.
The computer has changed the way people do things. In the past people used sticks for writing. Graphite was hard to get because there was stiff competition in the international market. These are times when people were ignorant to the extent that they were complacent with use of sticks to write information on the ground. Indeed, there was use of clay surfaces and papyrus reeds as writing surfaces. In fact, I learnt the writing skill by writing calligraphy on a leveled muddy surface and a dry ground surface. The rebuke from parents did not stop me from learning in this manner. Thereafter, I learnt the names of my mother and other family members. I could not manage to write the names because I had not been taught the vowels. Later, I was taught the vowels hence I stared to write the names on my own.
This was a primitive and unreliable practice because such information could not be stored for future reference neither could it be transferred from one location to another location. However, the ability to write is technology because it is this skill, which led to the unraveling of fields like psychology, arts, sciences, music and geography .Then, the pencils, and chalks were introduced after some time. The pencil was a device that was invented for marking materials like timber, during ascertainment of measurements. The artists, scientists, plumbers, architects and carpenters used this devise in carrying out their tasks apart from forma writing. Later people became civilized hence customized the use of the pencil. Industries were invited to invest through foreign direct investment, in the production of stationery .Erasers for deletion of written stuff were made out of bread. Juice was extracted from plants also helped in erasing of words and other characters on a script.
Technology led to the introduction of the modern day erasers which has boost communication greatly. Indeed, technology in this regard improved the manner in which people received and disseminated information to their colleagues. In fact, it is due to technology application that even ink and other materials were obtained. It was modern stationery was used for some time, that the primitive people started to learn on the efficiency and convenience of the new modern technology. The mass media produced bulky literature after the paper industries and the inks became available. This was aimed at reduction of the illiteracy levels of the masses of people .Furthermore, this was done in order to boost their living standards.
Initially it was believed that verbal communication was sufficient in communication hence communication through writing was not emphasized. This is because communicating verbally enhances stressing of points and it is more lively compared to the written communication. The indigenous people did not realize that communication through writing enables people to save time and energy consumed in verbal communication. In addition, the latter provides a record of events thus in case there is need for information reference can be made easily to the documented written document. My family believes in both forms of communication in order to have a complete communication .Communication through writing determines how verbal communication will occur. This is because it communicates factual information. This prepares people on how to react emotionally, psychologically and intellectually, to a specific set of information. This in effect, contributes to the advancement of literacy technology in a society. Names of people are shortened in pronunciation in order to make the new technology more appealing to the illiterate folk. Instance, my family believed in education. Literacy is acquired through education thus; I was initiated into the academic system at attender age. I used to imitate the way family members communicated especially the shortening of names. I learnt much with regard to advancement of technology.
The adaptation of technology is influenced by generational gap because it is easier for the young folks to yield to the application of technology in communication than the old folks. Verbal communication was hailed because it provided substantial contribution to court cases. This owes to the fact that the witnesses could be cross-examined in order to establish facts concerning cases. However, signatures on written paper could also serve as solid evidence in a court case. In addition, watermarks were also introduced in order to authenticate documents used in buying of property and other transactions.
Later, there emerged the use of telephone in communication. This boosts the communication amongst people because it eliminated the need for a person to travel long distances in order to communicate. The telegraph introduction was also a good communication technology, which enhanced the use of text messages in communication between people who were geographically far from each other. However, the telephone could be used by adversaries of people abuse their targets. In addition, the telephone could only transmit audio signals but the visual appearance of the people communicating, could not be transferred.
A paradigm shift has been manifest in the advent of the world wide web given its boost of communication technology .This has brought about the use of emails, virtual communication, mobile phone, laptops and iPods. Indeed, the internet has enhanced communication among millions of people. For, instance the use of virtual communication system enables a person to communicate lively with other people regardless of the geographical distance between them. Virtual conferences can be held hence an individual is not required to attend a meeting in person. In addition, the internet has enhanced the use of the word-processing software which enhances the writing process. This has made obsolete the use of typewriters and use of manual methods of writing hence improvement in the communication technology. Moreover, this software has led to the use of applications like micro-soft access, PowerPoint, excel, disk operating system, and adobe PageMaker.
Use of graphics has also contributed to the enhancement of communication because they create a user friendly interface. I am a beneficiary of all these application and this has improved my communication skills through the knowledge and exposure I have had in using the internet. Technology has also led to the use of sophisticated models of printers with high resolution power. These convert the soft literature into hardcopy literature that can be referred to, later. However, the advancement in literacy technology has its demerits whereby there is data hacking over the internet space. This has led to t loss of millions of money from the on-line accounts of investors. Confidential information has also been accessed through these malpractices .Furthermore, it is not easy to certify a document in softcopy. The data hackers have also generated software that corrupt stored documents and other sets of information over the internet .However, Anti-virus software has been generated to counter the effects of the virus and guard documents against attack. The use of laptops has further made communication easier because of its portability and consumption of battery power. This has boosted the learning of many students because of the accessibility to the internet where they acquire volumes of different sets of information relating to their careers. It has made even teaching enjoyable given the easier access of relevant teaching information materials.
Conclusion
Technology plays a big role in the improvement and advancement of communication skills. It increases the literacy levels of people and makes them realize the gains, which come with the embracing of new way of doing things. Communication is crucial in the interaction of human beings thus there should be reliable and easier ways of communication. Technology has led to a shift from the old and outdated means of communication to the new and modern means of communication. This has enabled the world to be connected like never before. Indeed, technology has converted the world into a village. Many benefits have accrued from this feat in the communication technology.
