In today’s digital world, the boundaries of traditional print are constantly shifting. As Walter Ong and J. David Bolter explain, writing has fundamentally changed how we think and communicate. In the past, print was a static, permanent medium. Now, with the rise of digital formats, writing has become far more fluid and accessible. Bolter describes this transition as the shift from the “age of print” to the “late age of print,” where digital formats, such as word processing and online media, have supplanted traditional print in many ways.
Print’s transformation is evident in the concept of “remediation,” where newer technologies build on older ones. For example, email has remediated traditional mail by offering faster, more informal communication. Similarly, the advent of word processors has allowed us to write and revise text quickly, a shift from the permanence and carefulness required in handwritten manuscripts. As Bolter argues, this flexibility may change how we perceive writing. While the permanence of print once gave texts a sense of authority, digital writing’s malleability threatens this perception.
The age of print may not be gone, but it is evolving. Today, both print and digital formats coexist, and our relationship with writing has transformed. With digital media, communication is instant and less formal, reflecting the ongoing shift in how we think about texts and their significance.
It is important to consider how these new mediums influence the way we interact and the essence of those interactions. Email, in particular, has largely replaced the traditional hand-written letter, and with that shift, there is a noticeable transformation in how we express ourselves and connect with others. While some may argue that email more accurately reflects our thoughts—perhaps because it allows for immediate communication with minimal editing—it is worth questioning what such immediacy might cost us in terms of meaningful connection.
Email communication may shape not only what we say but also how we relate to each other. Unlike traditional letters, which feel personal and intimate, emails are more utilitarian. Writing a letter involves a ritual—choosing paper, folding it, and placing it in an envelope. This physical act enhances the emotional connection between sender and recipient. The weight, texture, and ink of the letter carry a sense of effort and intention. With email, the technology behind the communication is often transparent. We focus on the words and the message, not the medium itself.
This transparency, as discussed by Richard Lanham and Bolter and Grusin, is the hallmark of modern digital communication. When we read a book, we rarely think about the letters on the page. We get absorbed in the story or information. Similarly, when we read an email, we forget that it is digitally encoded and transmitted across networks. This “transparent” communication lets us focus on the message but hides how technology shapes our interactions.
What happens when communication reminds us we’re engaging with a constructed system? This is the concept of “hypermediacy.” Hypermediacy refers to media that intentionally make us aware of the medium. It resists transparency. Websites often design interfaces with navigation bars, scrolling feeds, and many choices, keeping us aware of the interface. This overload of visual elements makes us focus not only on the content but also on how it’s presented. Hypermediacy pushes us to recognize the technology, not just the information.
This approach contrasts with traditional, linear content presentation, where the medium is invisible and the focus is on the narrative or information. For example, when television news shows began using internet information, they adopted a website-like design with scrolling text and weather alerts. The goal was not only to deliver the news but also to create a layered experience that reflects digital media’s complexity. In this way, television news remediates the web, just as websites remediates print media.
Ultimately, the medium we use to communicate shapes not only the content of our messages but the way we relate to each other. Whether we embrace the rapid-fire nature of email or long for the intimacy of a handwritten letter, understanding the medium’s impact on our communication is crucial. The shift from late-age print to digital media has further transformed how we express and receive information.
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