Transactional Literacy
http://www.stc.org/confproceed/1993/PDFs/PG252255.PDF

Hawkes, Lory
STC Proceedings
1993

Abstract:

Ever wonder why we find graphical user interfaces, hypertext, and multimedia so appealing? Some of the appeal has to do with language itself which is the basis of human transactions, and some of it has to do with our conditioning as a literate society. Literacy builds on visual as well as verbal skills. This paper traces the roots of language to the ascendancy of print technology to explain how visualization is the foundation of literacy.