There are four aspects of the new electronic communication technology
which must be considered. One aspect is that of speed and capacity.
Its processing speed and storage capacity is superior to that of
earlier technologies. One of the reasons for that is the use of the
rather simple system of binary coding. All information which is fed
into the electronic communication system is converted into binary
codes which are decoded when the information is presented again. This
opens up for a manipulation of sign systems, not only written verbal
language as a sign system, but sound, colours, images, animation and
video as sign systems as well. With this technology writing becomes a
manipulation of several sign systems challenging the traditional
concepts of text.
Another aspect of the computer technology as a writing tool is the organization of information in a non-physical electronic space. This represents a break with the present tradition of organizing and presenting information in printed articles and books as it opens up for new ways of organizing information. The print culture has given us standardized presentations and set norms of organization. The layout and rationalization of format, and presentation of printed information in books and articles are editorial decisions within an existing technology (Eisenstein 1993). As the thoughts of readers are guided by the way the contents of books are arranged and presented, the texts of writers are influenced by the potential for expression which the writing technology has. New communication technology will bring its own potential for expression which imposes new obstructions upon and opens up new possibilities in written communication.
As said above, the new communication technology opens up for a manipulation of several sign systems, and this is our third aspect. On the one hand we have the applications which allow the writer to manipulate with sound, graphics, aninmation and video as well as verbal language. The writing tool is the same for all, keyboard and mouse. On the other hand we have the opportunity to convert sign systems through speech and handwriting recognition programs. For speech, particularly, this is a very questionable process as all non-linguistic aspects of oral communication are ruled out. But this nevertheless points to the possibilities and potentials for manipulating sign systems.
The fourth aspect of the new communication technology is the implications of local and global electronic networks. Electronic networks open up new possibilities as they drastically reduce time and distance in written communication. Local and global networks give writing what the telephone has given speech. It is possible to communicate written language, graphics, images and film with the same speed and interaction as previously has been reserved for sound only. Hypertextual, multimedia networks as e.g. World Wide Web, not only connect people but also information from the various databases of the electronic world. As an example, an article written in such a system can give all the references in extenso by activating a link to each particular reference.
These four aspects, capacity, organization of information, several sign systems, and electronic networks, are some general potentials of a new writing technology. How these potentials are developed will vary according to the culture in which this technology is put to use. It is important to remember that such a development is affected by economic, social, and political formations. The writing tools that become available always come with 'ideological price tags' (Kaplan 1992). But it is not within the scope of this article to embark upon a general criticism of this particular technology. I shall limit myself to give an outline of some applied functions of it and discuss some consequences for the concepts of text, writing and communication.
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