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Throughout history human beings have  invented many devices that have made people’s life more comfortable and easier. However, in our society, we can find people who see technology as a friend and others who see it as an enemy. As Neil Postman wrote in his article Informing Ourselves to Death “Technological change…always results in winners and losers.” (Postman: 1990:2). According to this, there are two sides which express their own opinions about technology.  People who are  fond of new technology say for example that someday new technology will replace books, magazines, newspapers and other sources of written  information. I do not consider myself a friend or an enemy of new technology but in my opinion I firmly believe that modern technology will not replace the written word as the main source of information.

First of all, there are many people who like reading a lot but are not good at working with computers. These devices  are completely new for them, specially if we are  talking  about adult people. Instead, they prefer a written text because the only thing they have to do is to have it and start reading it. On the contrary, if a person prefers a computer for doing so, he/she needs to know many things like: how to turn it on, the function of each of its components and obviously how to use it. People who are not good at working with computers think that using a computer to read books would be a nightmare for them.  As reading from a book, newspaper or magazine does not require any knowledge about technology, the written word will be prefered by those who are not good at working with computers which makes difficult the replacement of the written word by modern technology.

Secondly, it has been demonstrated that spending too much time in front of a computer can cause visual problems.   As Tom Nugent says in his article about the computer vision syndrome: “Because computers are self-illuminating, they can produce a great deal of harmful glare for the eyes…”(Nugent:2005:1). Scientists have proved that the radiation produced by  computer screens affect the vision causing what is scientifically known as Computer Vision Syndrome.  People suffering from this syndrome usually have headaches, sore eyes, blurred vision, neck pain among other symptoms. As a result, people will not prefer using a device that can cause health problem if they have the posibility of doing the same from a source that is save for their health.

Thirdly, books will continue being read because many people do not have the facility to have a computer at home, not even have access to internet.  If new technology will replace the written word both: computers and the Internet are needed. But, as computers are expensive technological devices as well as the monthly bill people must pay for the wide band internet service,  the idea of the written word being replaced by modern technology is not as strong as many people think. While prices for the acquisition of modern technology are not affordable for everybody, books, and other written sources like this will continue being used.

In contrast, there are some people who consider that the main source of information in a near future will be virtual. According to them the use of  modern technology has facilitated the process of looking for information.  In addition, using the different search engines the web offers let people look for information  faster.  Eventhough all these could be true, I consider that these aspects are not very strong to consider that new technology will put books, newspapers, and other similar sources away since the positive aspects of the written word are stronger than those of modern technology.

Taking these points into consideration, I would say that we have to recognize that modern technology has some positive points. However, if there is not an improvement in aspects like: prevention of visual problems produced by technological devices, training in the use of new technology and also an improvement to make modern technology affordable for everybody, the written word will continue being the main source of information.