Will Handwriting Disappear? Who Cares? (A Think)

The Washington Post is running an article entitled, The Handwriting Is on the Wall. The article states:

Scholars who study original documents say the demise of handwriting will diminish the power and accuracy of future historical research. And others simply lament the loss of handwritten communication for its beauty, individualism and intimacy.
"It's like so many other things in our society -- there's a sense of loss for what once was," said Laura B. Smolken, a professor of elementary education and early childhood development at the University of Virginia.

I'll never forget the time that one of my teacher education professors said that he thought writing would disappear as typing became far more common. This was in 1994. I was amazed at the thought. Twelve years later, I think it's likely. What do you think?

Lesson Ideas:
1. The article explains that researchers appreciate the opportunity to view original hand-written manuscripts because this allows them to determine authenticity. Ask students to look at a manuscript of Alice's Adventures Underground written by Lewis Carroll as a precursor to Alice in Wonderland, or another handwritten manuscript. Ask students to consider if looking at the original handwritten manuscript brings up different feelings than looking at a computer generated page would raise. You might consider asking students to write explain exploring the difference in these feelings.
2. Unfortunately for individuals trying to authenticate originals many (nearly all?) originals today are typed rather than hand-written. Just because it might be difficult to authenticate originals written on the computer today, does not mean that it will always be difficult to authenticate them. Tell students that the Commission for the Authentication of Original Manuscripts has commissioned them to develop a way to authenticate original manuscripts written on the computer. In groups, encourage students to creatively generate ideas. Tell them that they can invent any new technology they will need.
3. This article is truly about changing technologies. As one technology becomes common other technologies lose their place in society. As keyboards have become very common paper and pens have lost much of their purpose. Ask studets to list three items that they use in their daily lives that they don't think their grandchildren will use. Tell them that their grandchildren won't use these things because use something else in its place. (You might ask students to blog these ideas.) After students have finished this work, reconvene the class and invite them to share their ideas.
4. Introduce students to a piece of technology that you used when you were younger that they've probably never heard of. I'll never forget the time that a teenage girl told me that the first time she saw a dial telephone she thought you had to push the numbers. If you have an old gadget you might show it to students. Ask students to consider how this newspaper article relates to an old piece of technology.

Edit or expand upon these ideas on our Lesson-Wiki.