Of the six topics that were explored by our class and analyzed using McLuhan’s Tetrad, the one that caught my attention the most was “Tools Software”. I can see why they brought up some of the points they did but I do not tend to agree with all of them.

I do agree that Tools Software helps to move tasks along faster, like filing, researching and even editing. However, I do not agree that Tools Software can replace performance activities like the actual writing skills of a person or graphic design skills. Microsoft Word certainly does not make me a better writer in itself. I do not sit down at the computer and am suddenly struck with brilliance. Yes, if I spell something wrong it will alert me to that, but even then, I am the one that goes in and fixes it. This is the same as having someone read over your paper for errors, just a lot faster. Word processing programs allow you to finish your task more efficiently, but if you are a bad writer, they are not going to make you any better.

Likewise, it was said that Tools Software makes graphic design skills obsolete. Being a graphic designer myself, I beg to differ. Tools Software may give more people the opportunity to act as a designer, but again, that does not mean that they make good design. A brochure that is poorly put together and an eye sore to look at should be more than enough evidence that graphic designers are not obsolete. Designers are hired for their creative skills and their ability to use the tools available to them, in this case, software, to create engaging, useful products. Just because you know how to use Photoshop does not make you a graphic designer. That would be as silly as saying that since I know how to use word processing software, I am a novelist.

It is interesting to see that later in the analysis under what is overextended they do mention that just because people have Web software available they are not necessarily Web designers. If they concede this, it makes me wonder why they said designers will be obsolete. I think the confusion comes from the fact that these programs are now more affordable to anyone to own and the software itself is becoming more user friendly. So now, people can go out, buy the Adobe Creative Suite, and begin to use it even with no formal training in graphic design. But just like any word processing software that was available before, just owning the software doesn’t make you any more talented or provide you with the necessary background to create a successful design piece or novel. These tools merely make it easier for those who are trained in a specific area to use them efficiently and effectively.

Clearly, I do not agree with the analysis that Software Tools will replace anything that requires an actual thought process. I believe that Software Tools give people with specific knowledge the ability to create faster and edit more efficiently, giving them more time to perfect their output. The availability of this software to the general public may make some people think that they are designers, novelists, recording artists etc., but if they are not applying the basic concepts of the medium, they are simply playing around with computer software.