Word processing kills the art of cursive
Commentary
Joseph Roman Flis
Issue date: 9/24/09 Section: Editorial
Even though I have a laptop, I still prefer to take notes by hand, though I have noticed people using laptops to take notes in class more and more each year.
I think the invention of movable type was the first strike against the art of handwriting. All those old books with their beautiful hand-drawn calligraphy were artwork in themselves.
As the years progressed and typefaces became more and more practical, especially after the printing press, the need for handwriting declined further.
After the invention of the typewriter, then even more so the computer and word processors, there are less and less needs for writing out words by hand, and thus less emphasis on penmanship.
Nowadays, one could literally get away with not writing anything by hand at all for long periods of time. I think the biggest use would be writing out a signature, but there are even e-signatures now for online forms.
One day try to consciously see how difficult it is to get through the day not writing down anything by hand at all, which would be unheard of not so long ago.
Whether the future holds almost no need for handwriting we shall see, but it is a skill that certainly should not be forgotten.
I think the invention of movable type was the first strike against the art of handwriting. All those old books with their beautiful hand-drawn calligraphy were artwork in themselves.
As the years progressed and typefaces became more and more practical, especially after the printing press, the need for handwriting declined further.
After the invention of the typewriter, then even more so the computer and word processors, there are less and less needs for writing out words by hand, and thus less emphasis on penmanship.
Nowadays, one could literally get away with not writing anything by hand at all for long periods of time. I think the biggest use would be writing out a signature, but there are even e-signatures now for online forms.
One day try to consciously see how difficult it is to get through the day not writing down anything by hand at all, which would be unheard of not so long ago.
Whether the future holds almost no need for handwriting we shall see, but it is a skill that certainly should not be forgotten.
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