The origins of media theory go back to the research on the effects of the alphabetical revolution on purely oral societies. The theory of orality and literacy faces nowadays the phenomenon of hypertext and of computer interfaces in general. So, besides the traditional problems concerning the differences between purely oral societies and societies possessing widespread alphabetical abilities, the hypertext offers and important reference not only as new phenomenon but also as a point of comparison for the study of orality and literacy.
Paul Majkut