“The digital artifact, therefore, is a scaffolding between the pre- and post- artifact systems.”
Mod’s perspective on post-artifact is a very interesting set of ideas. First off, Mod introduces the three systems of books: the pre-artifact system, the system of the artifact, and the post-artifact system. The pre-artifact system is where the book is made. The artifact is the book and the post-artifact system is when we interact with the book. One thing I like in the reading is how Mod asks ‘How do we change books to make them digital?’ And ‘How does digital change books?’
The digital artifact is a bridge between pre- and post- artifact systems in which it carries the elements of a book but can constantly change.
“When you look at the same digital book tomorrow, it may very well be different from the version you read today…For only the briefest of instances — seconds, perhaps, for popular authors — does the digital edition of a book exist in this static, classic, ‘complete’ form.”
As I reflect on my own experience with using the web as a source of information and entertainment, I realize just how fast-paced it is as the web is constantly changing to fit the present/future. While similar to books in which I can browse and read, post-artifact systems give me a chance to interact and engage with other real people’s thoughts and feelings, I am able to teach and learn from others in a fast-paced environment, such as Wikipedia, as mentioned by Mod. Wikipedia is compared to encyclopedia’s and is often changing unlike the physical capabilities of encyclopedias. One experience I thought of when hearing how the web can constantly change is updates on information, the change of views from the public on what they deem appropriate or not, etc.