Why is History More Digital?

The Rapid Increase of Technology

The past few decades have shown much technological progress in a brief period of time. Techonology’s evolution has been a long and dispersed process, however the process is quickening. Resultingly, many aspects of history have been recorded digitally rather than by hand. This process proves that, while there are many perks that come with performing tasks the original way, society tends to conform to newer, easier ways of life.

I can personally relate to this situation. As a twenty-year-old, I have spent most of my life in a technologically advanced society. Thus, most people would expect me to be as techonologically savy as the rest of my generation. While I am skilled at some of these processes, I often prefer “the old way” of doing things. I have the option of recording my notes in class on a laptop, but I find the process of writing to be more fulfilling in terms of absorbing information. The college classroom often lends itself to using a laptop– professors speak rapidly and typing is convenient, laptops can hold a lot of information, and they are easily transportable. However, I continue to resist conforming.

Easy Access to Information

Chapter three of Daniel Cohen and Roy Rosenzweig’s Digital History discusses the ease of accessing information, as well as the unlimited space. One of the perks of history’s digital transformtion is the ability to provide a document with ease, and create a new one without running out of space. The lack of limitations creates more options and allows for the creation and expansion of new material. In this sense, I support the digital transformation of history. Personally, I feel it is important to embrace new options, while still maintaining pieces of the past in a traditional form, such as handwritten notes. A balance of the past and the future can create a good present.

~ by mmaggi117 on September 10, 2012 .