This document discusses the history and impact of writing. It begins by noting that writing developed 5,000 years ago and has evolved through different forms and technologies. Several quotes highlight how writing has allowed ideas and thoughts to be shared, fueling the development of civilizations. The document then discusses projects on the future of writing, including how writing can be a form of thinking. It presents some objectives for a project on exploring how writing systems have developed and affected civilization. It concludes by stating the report will discuss writing through the written word.

1. Section 1
The idea of writing became reality 5,000 years ago. Since then the technology of writing
has passed through many forms during its evolution into the implements we use today.
The impact of writing can not be underestimated, and the power of words
"Words are the model, words are the tools, words are the boards, words are the nails."
- Richard Rhodes (journalist, historian, and author)
"It has not been for nothing that the word has remained man's principal toy and tool:
without the meanings and values it sustains, all man's other tools would be worthless."
- Lewis Mumford (historian, sociologist, and philosopher of technology)
"When I read great literature, great drama, speeches, or sermons, I feel that the human
mind has not achieved anything greater than the ability to share feelings and thoughts
through language."
- James Earl Jones (actor)
The leap from oral to written language allowed for the creations of civilizations. I plan to
argue in my final project that writing is the technology that has enabled the development
of civilization
fully automatic story generation, David Beque: The Infinite Adventur Machine
a project commissioned by Microsoft Research, Cambridge, in which we were asked to
“experiment with new tools for authoring”…”to redefine the relations between public and
private authorship”. My aim was to reintroduce writing as a form of thinking, and as the
research advanced it became clear that thinking and writing are not only the “twins of
mental life”, they can actually produce a possible form of it.
There is a rich world of symbols
that can change our perception
of the written language. Never
pronounced, constantly evolving,
these seemingly trivial hooks,
dots and lines can clarify,
But on our keyboards this diversity
is reduced to the bare minimum.
the future of writing = the future of reading
Resources:
Beall, Matthew and Topp, Steve. “Moving Towards a New Literacy: The Impact of the
Internet on Literacy.” McMaster University, 1999.

2. Burns, Alfred. The Power of the Written Word: The Role of Literacy in the History of
Western Civilization. Peter Lang, New York. 1989
Butler, Chris. “The Birth of Writing and its Impact.” The Flow of History: A Dynamic
and Graphic Approach to Teaching History, 2007. http://www.flowofhistory
.com/units/pre/1/FC7
Dunne, Anthony, et al. “The Future of Writing.” Microsoft Research: Cambridge, UK.
2012. http://research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/thefutureofwriting/
Searle, John. Interview by David Boulton. Language, Writing, Mind, and Consciousness.
Children of the Code, 2005.
Section 2:
Objectives of the Project
 Explore how writing systems and technologies developed and evolved
 Evaluate the positives and negatives of ancient and modern writing technologies
 Discuss the affects writing systems and technologies have had on civilization,
individuals, and the environment
 Analyze the future of writing systems and technologies, and the possible
implications of future developments
Section 3:
The obvious medium through which to discuss writing is writing itself! I am looking
forward to generating a written report