Week Two - Topic 1a: Digitality and Code

Digitality and code. Imagine you couldn’t compose your assignments on computer. How would a hand-written editing and composition process be
different?

Lister et al: pages 15-17

Digitality is where numerical values are used to represent information for input, processing, transmission and storage. These numerical values are then converted into binary numbers, which are 0 and 1, and allow a mass of information to be stored. The encoding of information can now be applied to text, sounds graphics and images. Digitality allows data to be compressed into small spaces, be retrieved quickly and in a non-linear way, be easily edited, and be split from their physical form.
Images can be easily be manipulated when in their digital mode, whereas an analogue, physical copy of the same picture would be harder to change. Sound files can also be easily edited and cut up, similarly with texts which are far easier to amend on a computer.
If I couldn’t compose and edit my assignments on a computer, the process would be very different.
Firstly, simple aspects like spelling and grammar. With Microsoft Word providing ‘spell check’, any mistakes are highlighted to you with the opportunity to change them. Handwriting an essay would greatly increase the risk of spelling and grammar mistakes. They would also be a lot longer in physical length and not as easy to read.
I think the hardest part of a hand written assignment would be the editing process, as drafting and re-drafting would be a lot harder. Personally, when I compose an essay I read through and change parts many times, so having to hand write a piece of work would reduce the quality quite drastically. Other things which are taken advantage of when composing an assignment on a computer are word count (so you know how much more to do or cut out), printing (providing a neat, legible piece of work), thesaurus (highlighting different word options), and font style/size, bullets and numbering options.