Mark K_ Professional Writing is Science Fiction

Straight from a science fiction novel, technology has invaded our homes and way of life. Some would say it created another world entirely (WWW). So how exactly has it changed professional writing? Well, how hasn't it?

• Research: Most of this is done through the internet now, either through database or website. I look for all of my research through the FGCU database and respectable websites. Having access to everything you need in your home is a huge time-saver.
• E-mail, E-messages, and memos: Need I say more?
• Letters: Revising, rewriting and editing is easier than ever with word processors. This makes writing a letter take less time and effort than it once did. There are also less traditional letters being written. Many times preference goes to electronic ways of sending messages.
• Visuals: It's now possible to input graphs, charts, and graphics easily into reports to make them more clear.
• Portable devices: I have a Kindle which can receive documents wirelessly to view easily on the device. Many people have iPhones or other phones which can view and edit documents without needing to even go to a printer.
• Teaching Professional Writing: Well... this whole class is online. Technology lets all of us collaborate on this blog to result in an end product which would be the same if we were all in the same room.

There is in added factor also, and it involves the focus of this blog. Electronic messages are using electricity of course, but they don't require the use of physical paper. As we move to the internet, computer, or wireless device more frequently, we are saving resources which were traditionally used in this subject.

So, the question I answered in this blog shouldn't have been how technology affected professional writing, but instead how has it not affected it. Technology is everywhere now and it will only continue to grow exponentially into the future.

Picture references:

"Guest Speaker" cartoon 5 - search ID amc0601. Found at http://www.cartoonstock.com

"Robot using Computer" Dreamstime.com Found at http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/thumb_364/1234290395nlEK7i.jpg