MGMT002 Technology and World Change, AY2013/14 Term 2

Instructor: Professor Pang Eng Fong

Section: G15


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I ndividual Essay

Reading: Chapter 4, The New Literacies, in Smarter Than You Think: How
Technology Is Changing Our Minds For the Better, by Clive Thompson


The New Literacies is situated in Clive Thompsons
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latest book that extols the
positive effects of technology, and how it is changing our minds for the better. In the
chapter, he argues that a form of technology-based change in our thinking can be
observed through by examining how new forms of literacies are developed by
everyone: where broadcast technology that used to belong in the domain of big
corporations and entities have become everyday, commonplace technology.

Literacy here refers to tools for thought, for decoding and expressing ideas.
Thompson paints a positive picture of everyone gaining new competencies in
emerging media: from the old literacies in text and print to photos, videos and now
even data, maps and 3D printers. He memorably traces the development of
photographic literacy from antique cameras to the ubiquitous phone-camera with
Instagram; and that of video literacy from bulky video cameras and film reels to
Youtube. To him, the litmus test for a literacy having matured is when the medium is
used as a way to self-organise and analyse information, when the user accesses the
medium to speak to himself, and not to others. To this extent, he terms it the Post-It
phase, and excitedly hints at such potential for video by pointing out how Tom Cruise
arranges videos on a holographic display in the opening sequence of Minority Report.

The chapter paints a positive picture of everyday consumers gaining competencies in
new literacies such as data and 3D printing, while the masses are learning to
communicate via and share statistical and physical information. Thompsons
optimism is an understandable response to knee-jerk technology-doomsayers who
posit the view that technology advancement has dumbed mankind down,
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but this
writer wonders if Thompson is perhaps only cherry-picking positive anecdotes to
make his case without addressing negative aspects.

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Clive Thompson is a renowned technology writer and journalist. He contributes to a number of
publications including the Wired and the New York Magazine.

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See for example, Nicholas Carrs thesis in The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains,
where he makes the case that we are losing our capacity for reflection and concentration due to the
Internet which encourages small and rapid samples of information download from multiple sources, in
comparison to the printed book that encourages deep thinking and creativity.


MGMT002 Technology and World Change, AY2013/14 Term 2
Instructor: Professor Pang Eng Fong
Section: G15


2

While this writer shares Thompsons view that new literacies liberate our
communicative potential, it is believed that this optimism should be tempered with
caution and a healthy dose of skeptism. Not everyone becomes savvy in emerging
literacies and integrates them into their thinking toolboxes; many people are left
behind.

Future commonplace tools for thought may be exciting due to their novelty, but the
devil is in the details. It is imperative that we start thinking about ensuring uniform
levels of access to new literacies, while tempering negative side effects such as a
potential impact on our attention spans and social abilities. Only then can such new
literacies and technologies become integrated into our collective toolboxes for good.


Jasper Wong Chun Yin, S9071220I

500 words