Personal Response to Bonnie Laing’s “An Ode to the User-Friendly Pencil” As time moves on, people begin to forget about the little things, and focus more on the bigger picture. New discoveries are being made that can make a task become easier and more efficient to accomplish. However, not all of this new technology proves to be better. In Bonnie Laing’s “An Ode to the User-Friendly Pencil,” she argues about the benefits of a pencil while outlining the drawbacks of a computer. Laing’s viewpoint on this topic is convincing because she argues her perspective effectively, she uses rhetorical devices expertly to enhance her opinion, and the overall essay can be relatable to almost everyone. Although the computer is an amazing machine, a person requires some training to be able to use it. On the other hand, “you can learn to use a pencil in less than 10 seconds” (332). Laing argues that the simplicity of a pencil makes it a better option when …show more content…
They help to enhance the essay while also proving the author’s point. Laing uses various devices within her essay including analogy, and irony. The analogy compares a destructive relationship with the author's relationship with her computer. In the end, the computer "forced [her] to spend a lot more time with an old friend, the pencil" (332). This analogy is effective because it allows the readers to understand the author's struggle with her computer, as she compares it to a subject that is more familiar. For example, destructive relationships consist of two individuals who are not sensitive to each other’s feelings. Likewise, the author states that “[the computer] proved to be very sensitive to everything but my [her] needs” (332). This comparison draws on the emotions of people who have experienced, or know of, this type of relationship. They know what the author is going through, and will likely understand the emotions that she
What if our life becomes fully dependent on the electronic devices in the future? “In Into the Electronic Millennium”, Birkerts discusses his concerns with the oncoming electronic world. Birkerts provides lots of cons about the electronic devices that can affect people's lives. The author’s intention for writing this essay is to make the audience aware of the significant changes that have started to occur as electronic technologies have developed. He uses various rhetorical devices to convey his arguments to the readers. Through this essay, he is trying to inform the academic community that the culture of printed words has ended in the society, while electronic technologies are starting to dominate. Birkerts uses anecdotes, juxtaposition,
Technology is upgrading itself and is, perhaps, taking over the world. From virtual reality to supercomputers, people are depending more on technology in their everyday lives, but is it necessary? Technology has reached the point where Samsung phones are becoming C4 explosives and 4K televisions do not display 4K quality. In “An Ode to the User-Friendly Pencil” by Bonnie Laing, she explains how a simple pencil that we use in our everyday lives is better than a complex computer that is technologically advanced, and through her ironic tone and economic line of reasoning, she gets that message across to her readers which I firmly agree on.
Richtel, Matt. "YOUR BRAIN ON COMPUTERS; Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 June 2010. Web. 27 Nov. 2012. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/07/technology/07brain.html?pagewanted=all
Modern technology has seen many debates about its usefulness, its relevance, and its impact on society. Two main parties have bound together, one arguing that the impact of modern technological advancements has had a positive effect on society, while the other side believes that it only makes things worse. In their argumentative pieces, Charles Seife and Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen address the issue of technology in the modern world, although their arguments vary drastically, through the use of various rhetorical devices.
Computers in general give people the ability to complete tasks that would have taken days or weeks to complete with the clicks of a few buttons. As technologies continue to grow the amount of adjustments that will be needed to make will be astronomical. However, society is aiming to help people gain the skills needed to push mankind further. In Davidson’s essay, she discusses how computers and technology can be put to many applicable situations. While working with her students, the “Duke students came up with dozens of stunning new ways to learn [and] almost instantly students figured out that they could record lectures on their iPods and listen to them for leisure” (Davidson 52). This advancement took a few weeks at one college campus in the United States when the technology was still being developed. Now, students have adapted to begin working across the globe to further society with new ideas for applying these technologies. These students now work diligently to make technology as effortless as possible so that their programs will be what will be used in the future. Gilbert discusses how when people are judged by a panel of others they tend to feel worse about themselves but, when dealing with computers people are only judged by one computer which tells them
Every so often there is an improvement in technology. 1“History also shows that we generally improve and refine tools to make them better.” As technology progresses the human mind has to improve, in order to continually
His argument that people are becoming too dependent on technology is weaved through the explanation of ELIZA: a computer application program that “offered a ‘mechanic clarity,’ replacing language’s human ‘messiness’ with a ‘clean internal computer.’” (202)
A majority of the working people sit at the desk all day, using one or more computers to work with. Even 100 years ago this was unthinkable and far away. The typewriter, the telegraph, and the first telephones and photographic apparatus were regarded as marvels of technology, which became indispensable for some branches of profession. However, most people only had very late access to modern developments that would change life and work sustainably.
The evolution of technology is constantly occurring in order to be more helpful in society. Therefore, a new gadget comes out within months or a year because of how it’s constantly evolving and how clients always ask for more. Andrew Sullivan wrote an essay in 2005 and talked the once popular iPod. In his essay, “Society Is Dead, We Have Retreated into the iWorld,” Andrew Sullivan uses the rhetorical triangle, visual imagery, and one of the rhetorical appeals, logos, to achieve his purpose of how technology has impacted human interactions.
Yet and still, technology has given us many advances over the years. From the typewriter to the printing press, technological advances have made life easier and convenient. We might not see the benefit in the present moment, but eventually it’ll all become clear. For example, objectors of Gutenberg’s 15th century printing press argued that the easily accessibility
Technology is used on a daily basis to accomplish specific tasks or interests. Modern technology increases human capabilities and this technology has evolved with years. Technology simplifies life in so many ways and everyone defines technology in their own way. They’re new types of technology on the market, this technology simplifies our daily lives. They’re endless demands as consumers of technology, people use technology to accomplish simple tasks every day. Technology’s used in business, education, communication, healthcare, entertainment and so much more. There’s an unquestionable impact of technology on society. Whether considering the plow, vaccinations, or the internet, technology has had a huge impact on society. While not every advance benefits society, there’s many positive effects of technology. Modern technology makes life more convenient now more than ever. Modern technologies like broadband internet makes it possible to access relevant information at any time anywhere. Today’s technology makes it simple for students to learn from anywhere through online education and mobile education, which improves the education system. It also improves the health system, most hospitals have implemented modern technology in surgical rooms, which may reduce the number of mistakes made by doctors. Modern technology’s more convenient than when it was simpler because, it provides an easy way to access information, improves the education system, and it improves the health system.
“What is technology?” Have you ever marveled about the prominence of technology in our day-to-day lives? If you ever have, you have undoubtedly appreciated its complexity and its capability to make everyday responsibilities easier for yourself. For example, you probably admire how cellphones have completely eradicated the old-fashioned method of communicating, by sending mail to friends and relatives. Or how the invention of laptops and computers have brought up a new, more efficient method to stay in touch with the world, though the internet, rather than the previous method of newspapers. However, all these basic ideas of the importance of technology are ideas of what technology has done for you, and can be completely different for others. Have you ever wondered what technology has done for others, perhaps people not in the same circumstances as you, perhaps of a different age, religion, race, gender, or socio-economic status than you? Maybe you haven’t, but Microsoft, a leading technological superpower, certainly have wondered about this as seen in their “Empowering” ad.
With this kind of attitude towards machines I was introduced to computers about what they can do and how they do it. This was enough for me to decide that I was going to work with computers all my life.
Next, technology helps us complete tedious tasks. For example, you are writing an essay and you are not an
As someone with extensive computer literacy, I understand the importance of being able to be efficient with the use of computers. Whether it is at school, or at the workplace, the struggles and inefficiency I see people have with computers results in a lot of wasted time and effort. The internet, and computers, play such a giant role in the day-to-day life of human beings that if computers were all wiped out tomorrow, humans would have a very difficult time in adapting to life afterwards. If you do not have the proper computer literacy in 2017, you are at a significant disadvantage to the rest of your peers. In this essay, I will highlight some of the causes of computer illiteracy, its effects on people’s