When we hear the word “Literacy,” we think books, reading and literature. It is safe to assume that anyone reading this blog post is literate. As in, they know how to read. However, the term “literate,” is broad. We are literate in so many subjects and areas other than english and reading. J.D. Applen goes into further detail about this in her book, Writing for the Web: Composing, Coding, and Constructing Web Sites.
In chapter one, Applen discusses how literacy pertains to speaking and writing in today’s technology. She says, “Usually computer languages are for relatively simple pieces of data, not abstract human concepts; describing the satisfaction experience in the company of our friends or family or why we like the music we do cannot be reduced ti a number or one-word designation found in a database.” In other words, this can be viewed as us not being able to express ourselves fluently and effectively using technology. While I understand where Applen is coming from, I respectfully disagree.
We can show our feelings and thoughts via expressive language in how we present ourselves using technology. Technology has so many different art forms and uses. Some people use technology to make music, and that can be interpreted using the type of music. If it is slow paced, it typically will be perceived as sad. If it is more fast and upbeat, it will be perceived as a more uplifting song. The use of art in photos and videos also are used to express oneself. It is all in the color story. Dark colors and themes express the artist’s low energy, while bright and vibrant colors express a higher mood. Thus, technology can be used in so many ways, and does not need to only have us express ourselves via databases.
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