When we discuss the evolution of media, we should take into consideration how we view traditional and new media. How do we respond to text on a screen and printed text? Applen explains that “Our responses to writing and graphics on computer screens can be linked to the way that we have responded to oral discourse, as opposed to print in books” (7). Oral discourse has always been around. It has influenced how we decide to express our thoughts. We need our oral language skills to learn how to read and write. It is a representation of speech. An important connection between writing and speaking is vocabulary. The speaker needs previous knowledge in oral language to be able to get the meaning from a written text. Therefore, when we write or read, these skills become an extension of our oral language.
Differences between new media and traditional literacies
There are key differences between these two media. For example, traditional literacies follow a strict order no matter what. You read the text from left to right and top to bottom. Meanwhile, in a website, the reader decides how to engage with the text. Especially since a website offers pictures and hyperlinks where the author feels like it’s needed. This leads to the lack of order that a website offers to make sense, not all the information in it needs to be tied together to make sense. Unlike, in traditional printed works where the information is captured in a specific order to convey meaning.
Additionally, there is little to none change on the font, such as: type, size or color in printed texts. However, in a website the text becomes unfixed and it becomes interactive so the reader has the ability to change it to whatever fits their needs. This way, the reader experiences the text in a different way far from printed texts where “Everyone had to “enjoy the same goods”” (9). The awareness of how the texts look in a website is important, since it can bring individuality to how the reader experiences. This is something that cannot be done in traditional literacies since they only have one format.
Future of Media
The evolution of the media will keep advancing.It is crucial to understand the changes that new technologies bring to the way we communicate. It can allow us for better direct communication and interactions. As new technologies are developed we need to adapt to them to continue communicating. Evolution has transformed the way we approach communication and appreciate our world.
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