As times continue to change and the modern world becomes more digitized, questions about the validity and benefits of digital print arise. J.D. Applen explores the various outcomes of using digital technology for writing spaces in his book “Writing for the Web.” Applen argues that writing on a computer “undermines the stability of the writing we produce.” It is clear that writing in pen requires more focus and precision than typing does. This is due to the lack of room for error. This is even more true of carving in stone. But how drastically different is digital print from previous forms of writing?
The Differences
Applen stated that words on a screen would soon be deleted, replaced, or altered. This claim justifies his idea of the lack of stability with computer writing. In other words, written text cannot be altered once it is printed. However, because digital text is not printed, it has the ability to change. However, I do not believe that this “undermines the stability of the writing we produce.” Instead, I feel as though it provides more stability for growth. “Words on a screen,” as Applen puts it, still have the ability to be transmitted, studied and annotated. In fact, it can be argued that the digital aspect allows for more of an opportunity for this. Although digital text can be deleted, the likeness of something being published to the internet and then being deleted forever seems almost impossible.
Digital(foot)print
Digital footprint is something that most individuals are informed about from a young age. The idea that everything someone posts stays on the internet forever is often ingrained into the minds of young adults. I discuss digital footprint in more depth in my “Digital Privacy” blog post. However, the idea that a text can be published to the internet and then disappear entirely is rare. Therefore it is easy to argue that digital print exists in a way that is very similar to printed text.
The Power of Print
While a text that is digital has the power to be altered and printed text does not, the words still hold the same value. Applen poses a question on the meaning of writing if one were to read it from a carved stone rather than paper or on a screen. He questions whether the reader would attribute a different meaning to it. The answer is simple: No. The words written are still the same. The reason we believe text written in stone to be of a higher value is because several thousand historical artifacts have been written in stone. However that is simply because earlier time periods did not have other resources or materials. Whether digital or not, print holds equal value.
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