Composing

    The challenge of composing  is to knowing how to obtain resources from which a starting-point can be set, and secondly, how to move on from there to modify that starting text  into what is required. For example, a composer may adopt the layout of another document  on file , or even cut and paste large portions of text from another document; the next steps of modifying those borrowed selections to mould them into an expression that is consistent with the balance of the composition is the challenging step.

     Composing is an activity  of orchestrating a large number of variables quite unlike “writing ”. Composing also involves borrowing, and knowing how and when to borrow “text ” at a much higher rank than “writing”. Writing is usually a feat of “wording”; composing  is an activity of “objectifying” or working at the rank of “object ” within a particular program  or set of programmes. Depending on the selection in place, an object can be as small as a “word” or it can be as large as a complete photograph , or an entire document .

     Composing, then, has an element of politics that may not be at first apparent to the composer. How much of each text , and how many of the texts on-line within an organisation are available for “borrowing”? Some businesses prefer that “standard” letters and forms are used. For example, one organisation required from the writer that every document  raised for any client be a standard document available on the network and modified only in those places so marked ¾ outside of this no document was to be forwarded to a client. Other organisations allow borrowing from any other person’s documents, except the Managing Director’s documents. In some settings, every document is copyrighted, marked with the composer’s name and warnings of rights and uses marked in small text on every page . In spite of the capacity for substantial savings in computer  based communications being available in that business , the sensitivities of the organisation set as they were precluded people from using the most valuable resources they had in composing  further computer documents.

8:01:07 PM   

Operating

Operating involves using a keyboard, mouse, and other peripheral devices to provide the computer with input that forms the human part of the human-computer dialogue. When using a keyboard or other peripheral device, the human must select from the range of options defined on the computer screen using active units as a resource with which to reply to the questioning of the computer.

7:58:00 PM   

DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL TRIAL SOFTWARE

1. Locate sites online that provide current lists of downloadable software
2. Read descriptions of software and identify a selection based on suitability for the user's current machine
3. Download to the user's machine
4. Install the software
5. Appraise the software for useability
6. Uninstall the software
7. Delete any further evidence of the software having been on the machine

7:52:28 PM   

OBTAIN A COMPUTER FOR PERSONAL USE

1. Identify features of a personal computer
2. Understand the features of the computer as providing a particular benefit or drawback for the intended use
3. Identify the additional peripherals and connection devices required for the intended purpose
4. Identify a range of operating systems
5. Determine the computer and software combination which will give the best functionality for the desired purpose

6:06:33 PM   

Technacy

Technacy primarily is about a new consciousness, an extended consciousness beyond oracy and literacy  that encompasses the problems posed by a new language  order ¾ electronic language. Consciousness of language (spoken and written) is taken here to be a description of the relations people believe to exist between language, the mind and the world. Most people go through the day without exercising their consciousness of language . To be aware of every word and its ramifications might be either sublime or petrifying. Yet consciousness of language is innately human. It shows itself most in the way we play with language ¾ puns, slang, rhyme and a host  of other verbal tricks. Similarly, consciousness of electronic language is taken to be a description of the relations people believe to exist between electronic language, the mind and the world.

6:00:13 PM   

Towards a Taxonomy of Technate Skills and Experiences

Dr Kurt Seeman asks Can Our Schools Deliver An Education In Technology? My gravest fears are that schools are most unprepared for anything remotely like educating people to be technate.

My fears are based upon sampling the results of the education system through the eyes of three teenagers -- my brother-in-law's teenegers who are 12, 14 and 16 years of age. Out of the three the 12 year old is the most technate -- she spends three hours or so each night on Instant Messenger chatting to friends from school, types assignments (preparing print essentially which is not really a skill of technacy), checks and replies to emails, and draws simple graphics and so on.

Natasha's interest in things technate are not because of school. This interest and aptitude can be traced back to her introduction to technate skills when she was aged three and four years of age. I was in the midst of my research on electronic language when I wanted to show the independence of technacy from literacy. Being a three year old non-reader I introduced Natasha to using a computer and communicating with people online. At three years of age she could do an amazing number of activities -- including being able to predict when the computer would freeze.

The other two are nowhere near the level of technate ability of Natasha even though they are older. Jessica, the 14 year old, has as one of her high school subjects, Computer Studies. Largely this is not about technacy but about low level issues of operating a computer and using some standard programs. What about using all of the major communication tools: email, weblogs, chat, video chat, online searching, preparing and building a website, purchasing online, accessing online ebooks and libraries? Education is ill equipped to introduce and provide experience in these topics.

A taxonomy of skills, activities and cultural experiences is required to display where the school system is lacking as Seeman points out. Look for this taxonomy -- I will begin building my concept of what is required of a technate person -- email me with any suggestions to add to the taxonomy.

7:02:28 AM