From Gutenberg to Gates, from the invention of the printing press to the emergence of digital communication, technology has transformed the way we produce, distribute, and receive information. In turn, new technology challenges our understanding of what it means to be literate. During the
Gutenberg era, only a small number of clergy, scholars, and scribes were literate. In the Gates era, universal literacy is the goal, with the expectation of the ability to read and write complex text at critical and interpretive levels. In addition, the concept of text has changed from traditional printed materials to a variety of media, including the Internet, film, and television.
