Why Technolgy Matters To Writing: A Cyberwriter's Tale

      This article by Jim Porter connects a world of writing through the use of technology. His reflection of how writing played a part in his life when he was young reminds me a little of my early experiences with writing as well. I recall having to use pencils without erasing, practicing my penmanship, and moving on to the use of pens. Within this article Porter's progression with the nature of writing entailed both meaning and substance. In addition, it focused on the tools used to construct the writing itself.

      Porter uses a chronological layout of technological advancements that not only was beneficial to him, but to those around him. For example, he began his use of the legal pad by seeing his father an attorney use it. Not only did it serve a purpose for him while he was in school, but his fathered benefited from it as well. The use of a Word Processor helped him as a professor of English at  before he brought the TRS. The TRS helped him to construct pages, layouts, and design graphics that were used within the classroom for rhetorical writing. This helped to connect both him, his students, and colleagues on a level of both learning and advancing through technology and writing. When he began using the Macintosh computer he was able to engage in   email and discussion groups to form. This ultimately helped to build a relationship between what is considered so important, writing and rhetoric.

      What really gained my interest is the fact that Porter indicates that as humans it is not the development of computers that we should be excited about, but the social and rhetoric implications it provides. I agree with him and think that in society you have to be able to understand and grow from the type of technology that you use. This is because of the fact that it enables you to take part in both a world that connects a social environment that is paralleled with a rhetorical environment significantly combined into one aspect.