1st Edition

From Writing To Computers

By Julian Warner Copyright 1994

    We do not need to look far for signs of divided consciousness with regard to books and computers. For instance, the United Kingdom Data Protection Act 1984 gave British subjects some rights of access to computer-held information on themselves but not to paper records. From Writing to Computers takes as its central theme the issue of a unifying intellectual principle to connect books and computers. Julian Warner uses an approach based on semiotics, and also draws on linguistics, information science, cognitive science, philosophy and automata studies. Covering a range of topics from the relations between speech and writing, to transitions from orality to literacy and claims for a transition to an information society, the author aims throughout to render complex ideas intelligible without loss of rigour. From Writing to Computers addresses ordinary readers who, as social beings and members of political communities, are affected by, and implicated, in significant developments in methods for storing, manipulating and communicating information. It is also intended for students of the disciplines on which the book draws: semiotics, information studies, linguistics, computer science, philosophy and psychology.

    Introduction Chapter 1.Semiotics Chapter 2.Writing Chapter 3.Intelligence of documents Chapter 4.Computers Chapter 5.Intelligence of computers Chapter 6.Conclusion Notes Recommended readings Bibliography

    Biography

    The author of a number of articles in librarianship and information science, Julian Warner is Lecturer in the Information Management Division at the Queen’s University of Belfast.

    'An excellent addition to any collection on computing, communication, library or information studies, and a recommended read for anyone with even the most general interest in semiotics, computing, writing or intelligence'