Reading overload and cogency

摘要

Reading overload and lack of cogency of technical communication, major causes of cultural lag, can be overcome by existing techniques that are economically attractive if value to organizations is taken into account; and that must not be postponed if value to civilization is considered. These techniques involve the selective dissemination of indexed surrogates that include: data, abstracts, and Terse and Ultraterse Literatures. The user can have within arm's reach an organized, indexed collection of at least 100,000 items (articles, condensed surrogates, data, etc.) in the form of hard copy, Mini-Print, microfiche and ultramicrofiche, all serially numbered and indexed for him in updated indexes. Reasons for the lag in implementation of these techniques are explored by means of an analysis of three models: (1) reference-retrieval systems, (2) question-answering systems, and (3) surrogate-dissemination systems. If cultural lag remains after the elimination of reading overload, then disciplines such as: advertising, salesmanship, persuasion, popularization and suggestion are available to increase the cogency of technical communication.