\

\

 

Program on Information Resources Policy —ieimclecates
John F. McLaughlin

Benjamin M. Compaine
Oswald H. Ganley

May 7, 1984

Dr. Joshua Lederberg Oy rR
The Rockefeller University CANES;
1230 York Avenue & CF me Paes!

New York, NY 10021-6399

    

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

I much appreciate your comments on my draft, "Information
Technology and Cultural Change: Toward a New Literacy?", which John
LeGates passed on to me.

I was a bit disappointed to discover that I cannot lay claim to
having coined the term "The New Literacy", as your IEEE article from
1978 clearly establishes precedent. However, I believe the difference
between your concept and mine is in part a function of the five years
between our articles. Watching 10 year-olds attack a video screen
with joystick or mouse or take to a personal computer leads me to
suspect that even where writing is the primary end, this digital tool
is leading to approaches to construction of thoughts and manipulation
of ideas that the random access nature of the computer makes possible.
I am the first to admit that my evidence at this point is only
anecdotal and circumstantial. That is why I want to pursue work in
this area. I believe that your concept of the new literacy is closer
to the transition stage I identify ("old wine in new bottles"). At
any rate, I find it a bit ironic to be put into bed with McLuhan,
because I have never agreed his "medium is the message"--and still
don't. I will have to work harder at articulating how my new literacy
notions differ from the McLuhanesque.

Thank you again for your critique. I hope I may call on you
again as this work progresses, using electronic as well as U.S. mail.

Yours truly,

Benjamin M. Compaine
Executive Director

 

BC / nilw
ce: JCL
faeq) Harvard University Center for information Policy Research Harvard University
3, h » 200 Aiken
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
617-495-4114

Cable: PIRP Cambridge