Postliteracy

[supergee]

In my lifetime, we have reversed the evolution away from pictograms. Now we have to learn that two parallel lines mean "pause," that a kindergarten representation of coitus means "power on/off." I like words. If I last long enough, I will miss them.

Comments

[arlie]

Words will still be there, even written words. But I'm beginning to think that various dystopic scifi had it basically right. The elite, who go to expensive schools, will still have literacy - and need it too. But the peons? They'll use "appropriate technology" in the form of video communication for "complex" matters, and icons for everything else. Already, my management likes to issue communications to the masses this way. And this will be one more barrier to class mobility.

[supergee]

My guess is that literacy will become a specialized skill: Some of the elite will have it; some will purchase it. Perhaps it will be that basis of a monastic-like order.