Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!lll-winken!lll-tis!ames!ucsd!sdcsvax!ucsdhub!hp-sdd!hplabs!hplabsz!taylor
From: reggie@pdn.UUCP (George W. Leach)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Re: To Use or Not to Use, But I Don't: The Computer-Writer
Message-ID: <1872@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM>
Date: 9 Apr 88 20:15:12 GMT
Sender: taylor@hplabsz.HPL.HP.COM
Lines: 81
Approved: taylor@hplabs

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Henry M. Grouten wrote about The Computer-Writer, saying:

>     Despite the advantages and benefits of using computers to assist in
> composing literature, not all writers are enthusiastic.  Some writers,
> for a variety of reasons, choose not to have a computer assistant to aid
> them in their work.


The same can be said of synthesizers being introduced into music.  Just
a few weeks ago I saw a demonstration of a Yamaha machine that allowed
the young man playing it to sound like an entire symphony orchestra!  To
some this technology means that the individual is capable of extending
themselves further.  On the other hand, the purist in that art will
scoff that it makes it too easy to compose music.  There is much to be
said for both arguments.

>     Perhaps these writers are bent on traditional methods and look upon
> computers as just another "machine", or they're reluctant to introduce
> anything between themselves and the finished product.

That depends upon what role the computer takes on.  If it is simply a
replacement for the typewriter, then it can speed up the production of
the final manuscript.  If it is involved in the composition stage,
perhaps there are different issues to be explored.  The composition
process may be influenced by the medium used to aid in composing text:
pencil and paper, a typewriter or a computer.  In the ideal case, one
would like to be able to utilize the benefits of the advanced
technology, while not interfering with the composition process.  In
practice, I doubt this is the case today.


>     Computers might make greater advances in the arts, if first they
> could deal with artists' prejudices.  "Most artists regard computers
> with wariness at best, and outright hostility at worst."  That's another
> motive for those writers who choose not to use computers to compose
> their work.

We are a long way from achieving this.  A tailorable user interface will
be there in the future.  I believe that Henry mentioned the Electronic
Information Exchange System (EIES) in his article.  There is a second
generation version of that system that has been worked on over the past
several years called Tailorable Electronic Information Exchange System
(TEIES) that will appear in the near future (or so I think).  Perhaps
someone at NJIT can comment on the progress of this system.

>     Most members of society hold some beliefs and attitudes when it
> comes to computers.  If these attitudes have no basis in the working
> knowledge, or training and education concerning computers, they will
> undoubtedly influence the writer's decision to not employ a computer.

I think this is just a part of one's personality.  Some people are
always leary of something new.  Others will be able to take on the
beast, master it, and utilize it to it's potential.  Before my father
retired he was starting to learn how to use UNIX.  And he had absolutely
no previous experience with computers.  He simply was curious.

>     Personally, I believe that any prolific (probably wouldn't be if
> it wasn't for computer technology) writer would be doing herself an
> injustice by not taking advantage of a computer's word processing
> capabilities.  With this technology comes efficiency, and doesn't that
> mean time, and to a prolific writer, isn't time money!
 .......
>     The real substance of writing lies within the artist's innate
> talents and abilities, and not in a machine.  On the other hand, using
> a computer as an aid in formatting (the layout, of course, coming from
> the artist) to make the final product "nice and pretty looking" is fine.

The computer is nothing more than a tool.  I think that there is
some sort of mystic surrounding the machine that people must get over
before they can start to see how the tool may be utilized.

I think that an area where computers may aid certain types of writers in
the future will be in the ability to communicate with other machines and
aid in the research phase of writing.  Many envision a future where
information access via computer over some communications link (dial-up,
ISDN, etc....)  will be common place.  The availability of information
to writers provided by this capability would increase their productivity
just as much, if not more than the word processor.

George