brkirby@watmum.UUCP (Bruce Kirby) (03/13/86)
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Hello,
I am currently working on a project studying the effects of
computers, particularly Natural Language Processors, on writing. I
would greatly appreciate any information, sources, opinions, or
personal experiences, that could be provided.
The topics I am interested in are:
1) Professional Writers
What effects are there on Journalists and Authors? Do
word/text processors, spelling checkers, style checkers simplify their
jobs? Are they using these aids? If not, why not?
How are editors aided/hindered by computers? Can computers
remove the need for proof readers, if superficicial errors can be
automatically eliminated?
2) Non-professional Writers
What effects are there on people for whom writing is a
secondary task(i.e. Managers, Academics, Students)? Will managers use
a computer, or continue to dictate to a secretary? What do they do
now? Will this allow for more or less time to be spent on other
tasks?
Can students use computers to simplify typing of essays and
theses? Will this allow more time to concentrate on the substance,
rather than the form, of what is written?
3) Education
Can NLP be used in a CAI environment? Can a computer teach
English? What effect will this have upon literacy, and writing style?
4) Long-Run Issues
To what extent is natural language understanding feasible?
Will a computer ever be able to write a novel? What sort of
flexibility in style can a computer produce?
Do we stand the risk of becoming dependent on computers? Will
our inherent ability to spell be affected by the use of spelling
checkers? Will we all write the same, copying the style produced by
computers?
Is there anything else that I am missing? Is this really an
issue? Is anyone still reading this?
Any response is greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Bruce Kirby
U. of Waterloo
UUCP: {decvax|utzoo|ihnp4|allegra}!watmath!watmum!brkirby