I went to the DMV to get my picture taken for my drivers license renewal. I had to answer about ten computerized questions before they would take my picture. Just sort of generic about organ donation and changing your political party.
I asked the woman if a lot of people had trouble with renewals, I was thinking that if you had never used a computer it might be difficult. She answered that the elderly have trouble with answering the questions with the key pad and a lot of teenagers could not write their names.
WHAT, she said that when they get there a signature is required for your drivers license and a lot of them do not know how to write their names. Can we print it, NO a signature is required. Then the next is can my mom sign for me? NO, just do your best. The woman also said she doubted that they can read the written word at all.
This is one of the saddest things I have heard in a while. I knew that cursive was being eliminated in the schools but it astonished me that they were never taught to write their own names. Something is missing in the Education Department in the USA.
Which brings me back to Genealogy, or any type of off line research. As we all know there are millions of records that have not been transcribed. Does this mean that in fifty years or so they will be obsolete? It is even worse when you think someone would want to read the documents written in the old penmanship styles.
I guess a person could make a lot of money transcribing the written word...
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