Many utopia writers emphasized the book’s importance in any ideal world. Some imagined ways to enhance the book aesthetically. Many imagined new written languages ranging from sign systems analogous to Chinese ideograms to syllabic writing, modified alphabetic systems and phonetic languages. Though utopia writers asserted the value of their imaginary written languages for enhancing thought and communication, each system, if implemented, would alter the reading process profoundly. In some utopias, technological media supersede the codex. Those who incorporated the phonograph foresaw three possible futures for the phonographic book: in some utopias, the phonographic recording and the printed book coexist; in others, the phonographic book completely replaces the codex; yet in others, the phonograph is combined with telephonic or telegraphic communication.
Because Visible Language is the oldest design journal, we support scholars by making PDFs of all back issues available. The full catalog of back issues is now available!
