Digital Media and Information in Society/Discussions/4-Early Literacy and the Manuscript Age

= Early Literacy and the Manscript Age =

Introduction

 * Brief overview of the day's focus: Cognitive shifts, uses, and gratifications in the early literacy and manuscript age.
 * Why It Matters Today: Understanding cognitive and technological shifts informs how designers create and innovate.
 * Relevant Wikipedia Articles: Information Age, Cognitive revolution

Transition from Orality to Literacy

 * Recap of oral traditions.
 * Introduction of alphabetic literacy as a disruptive technology.
 * Why It Matters Today:
 * Narrative Structures: Insights into game narrative design. (Story structure)
 * Information Processing: Understanding different modes of information delivery. (Information processing)
 * Relevant Wikipedia Articles: Orality, Literacy

Birth of the Alphabet and Cognitive Shifts

 * The move from pictographic to alphabetic systems.
 * Cognitive implications: abstraction and symbolic thought.
 * Why It Matters Today:
 * Symbolic Literacy: Importance in UI/UX design. (Semiotics)
 * Cognitive Load: Designing intuitive user experiences. (Cognitive Load)
 * Relevant Wikipedia Articles: History of the Alphabet

Material Transition: Clay to Papyrus; Tablets to Scrolls to Codex

 * Technological advancements in manuscript materials, from clay to papyrus and manuscript formats, from tablets to scrolls to codex
 * Changes in accessibility and durability of knowledge.
 * Why It Matters Today:
 * Medium Impact: Different media offer varied user experiences. (Medium Theory)
 * Permanence and Ephemera: Considerations in digital asset creation and preservation. (Digital Preservation)
 * Relevant Wikipedia Articles: Writing Materials, History of Writing

Uses and Gratifications in the Manuscript Age

 * Manuscripts for religious, legal, and educational purposes.
 * Personal use: diaries, letters, etc.
 * Why It Matters Today:
 * Content Types: Varied types of content fulfill different user needs. (Uses and Gratifications Theory)
 * User Engagement: Knowing the end-use can enhance design strategies. (User Engagement)
 * Relevant Wikipedia Articles: Manuscript Culture

Preservation of Cognitive Techniques

 * Importance of manuscripts in preserving knowledge.
 * Why It Matters Today:
 * Documentation: Importance in game and graphic design. (Software Documentation)
 * Knowledge Transfer: Relevance in collaborative projects. (Knowledge Transfer)
 * Relevant Wikipedia Articles: Preservation (library and archival science)

Conclusion

 * Sum up the cognitive, material, and societal shifts caused by early forms of literacy and manuscript technology.
 * Why It Matters Today: Provides a foundational understanding that informs modern design and innovation.