Halpern and Liggett provide a close look at several of the new communication systems, present a model of field research through which one of the new technologies is closely examined, and draw conclusions that lead to specific changes in emphasis in the teaching of writing. They describe instructional units that introduce the new technologies in college writing classes and the results of classroom experiments in which these units were tested. Finally they define additional research questions about the new technologies and timely approaches for answering them. They highlight the role of long-term and short-term memory, show how the choice of a composing medium influences the writing process, and discuss critical differences between speaking and writing."