The Essence of Handwriting getting lost in the Digital Age

Technology is used predominantly in the field of publication design which provides a great platform to shape an individual’s thoughts and experiences. Complex visual manipulations are now performed easily at much faster with technological assistance. The rapid influx of technology into the publication business represents an exciting opportunity to some people, while advancements threaten individuality and clarity to others. Today, forty-six out of 50 states have adopted Common Core Standards, which do not mention handwriting or cursive in their requirements, and there is a discussion to stop teaching printing, as well (Dee). Despite the positive impact of digitization, let’s take a moment to pause and analyze: how adversely will

this

affect the future of publication design? Every kid born in or before the 90s can relate to how handwriting played a crucial role in their personal development. They could relate more to the letters, their intricate styles, and structures by looking at their details.

Although

the world is becoming digital for our convenience, using pen and paper engages the muscle memory and allows the brain to summarize information in a way

that is

understandable to an individual, while using a keyboard tempts the brain to record information as received, the University of Tokyo found in a recent study. Handwriting is quick and convenient; anyone can write whenever and wherever they are under any conditions if they have a pen and paper.

On the contrary

, author Anne Trubek argues in the interview “Is Handwriting Obsolete in the Digital Age?” that contemporary technology maps the progression to match the speed of thought. The goal is to spend the time thinking about what to say, as opposed to how to make the letters to say it. The whole argument aims at making handwriting legible rather than one which should focus on handwriting stimulating human minds. Some people believe that the time spent writing letters is time spent thinking. It induces the thought and the craftsmanship within an individual to approach a task in a variety of ways. Through handwriting, we develop a vision and understand the letter formation, explore its structure, care for spelling mistakes, and ensure that the ideas are communicated effectively. Currently, most of our written communication is in the form of texting on mobile devices or through typing on a keyboard. It is critical to improving one’s ability to write and ignite interest in exploring the artistic craft of lettering, especially in the digital age. Handwriting is crucial for people to acquire basic skills like writing or communication. Humans should feel self-sufficient even if there is no computer or smartphone available tomorrow. It is difficult to find a balance between old-school and new-school resources, which has raised a thought-provoking question i.e., how will handwriting maintain its relevance in the digital era?