Traditionally, computers have not been seen in a social role, but more as a personal aid, or as devices with `abilities' which are analogous to human thinking.
The advent of PCs and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) has led to the demythologisation of much of this traditional kind of approach. In its stead, one has come to see in the context of human interaction, as an instrumental part of the media of human communication, in particular of the language. The effects of computers on the use of language are quite startling - from the `electrification' of traditional uses of written language to the development of entirely new kinds of spontaneous written dialogue.
The following sections will first cover aspects of the role of computers in society, and then concentrate on electronic publishing.
Take a look at these e-books.