The
alphabet tends to
impede the
western comprehension of the
computer. The
psychological effect that "
literacy" has on a
culture is one of
specialization and
fragmentation. Literacy fostered
democracy,
industrialization, and
point of view communication. This
brings about some
conceptual problems.
Once it has been
recognized that
the computer is not a medium, the
highly
specialist form of thought begins to have
difficulty dealing with new
information formats. With the
acceleration of
information, the
individual and
fact elements of the
content are harder and
harder to
distinguish. There is much more
data provided, but the
context is left for the
user to
derive. This is a
sharp contrast to a
book-form literary
style of communication.
People are
ill-
equipped to deal with
computerized
media concepts, let alone
content.
Perhaps the
eastern mode of thought, with its less
fragmented, more
kanji or
gestalt perception of things
adapts better to post-
automation,
information age ideas.
In an industrial age, the
alphabet is the "
superior" mode of communication, better adapted to those
conditions.
However, a
shift is about to
occur.
just take a look at the evolution (or disintegration) of the english language.