In the article Defining and locating Digital Rhetoric by Doug Eyman states that digital literacy is essential for digital rhetoric, just as print literacy is necessary for traditional writing practices. Digital literacy involves being able to read and write in various sign systems such as coded web pages, video,audio, and image. The question Eyman has for digital rhetoric is how to define digital literacy, in a way that is both functional and critical. Also, in a way of how it impacts the field of digital rhetoric.
The Debate
Many Scholars have debated upon the terms like computer literacy, media literacy, and electronic literacy in relation to technology use, but some argue that these terms dilute our understanding of literacy. I can agree that we can’t simplify the word digital literacy to these terms because it does not solely focus on the use of electronics, computers or media only. We have had technology in the form of digital literacy since the first form of pencil has come out. This was a form of technology as well. Now in the modern days our perception of technology has changed because we think it is related to digital devices like smartphones, computers, etc. But the reality of it is that almost everything is a form of technology.
Then the debate starts with Kress arguing that literacy comes from writing with letters but in a digital age. Ulmer introduces us to this idea of “Electracy” which focuses on literacy as an apparatus of the digital era. Seflie and Hawisher use the term literacies of technology to connect social practices, technologies, values. But then Eyman suggests that these all take away from the true meaning and suggests that the term digital literacy is the most appropriate for encompassing the complex nature of literacy in the digital age.
Overall, this topic in Eyman’s article emphasizes the importance of understanding and navigating multiple forms of digital literacy for effective communication in today’s literate world.
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