6/25 Electric Writing and Hypertext

Chapter 50 discusses the use of  “smart tags.” The smart tag is very helpful because it makes information available that’s related to the tagged item through radio frequency. Furthermore, the camera phone has the ability to scan a barcode and learn about the product before buying it. The smart tag can also be used as a monitoring system that can detect leaks in plumbing or even help prevent the kidnapping of children through the tracking software. There are also many negative things associated with the smart tags. For an example, the tags in passports have the ability to track all citizens and visitors. This can lead to more serious things such as tags under peoples skin, which can allow the government to know where someone is at all times. The chapter also discusses “data space as the new cyberspace.” The data space will be different because unlike cyberspace which needs a search engine like Firefox, the navigation in data space will be carried out by humans and maybe eventually a component of AI. The mouse as a graphical user interface really stood out to me in chapter 51. For so many years we have had technology that does not require the mouse, and as a consequence we seem to forget about it. Instead of the mouse we either have trackballs on the blackberry or touch screen on the iPad. The chapter also discusses the importance of the hyperlink/hypertext. Hypertext “extends the written word (341).” This is because it allows the reader to click and go to another place where they can find additional relevant information. Chapter 17 also discusses the difference between print media and hypertext. Print media doesn’t allow for interactivity the way hypertext allows. Hypertext shows “interconnectedness between ideas by linking them together (283).” Even though hypertext encourages participation, it is still open whether or not it will be used more often in classrooms.