https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-13273363/handwriting-extinction-IQs-begin-fall.html

America's fight to save handwriting from extinction as IQs
begin to fall for first time ever and teachers warn some
20-year-olds can't sign checks anymore

Americans reported they hadn't written a note or personal letter
in five years

People are having a hard time reading their own and others'
handwriting

Studies show writing can increase the brain's cognitive abilities

A new study published in February by researchers at the
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
found that handwriting is linked to increased cognitive
brain function, motor skills and memory.

'It is important to realize that the brain follows the
principle of 'use it or lose it,' said Audrey van der Meer,
the study's lead author and neuropsychology professor at
the NTNU.

'When writing by hand, most of the brain is active,'
she continued.

'This requires the brain to communicate between its active
parts which, in turn, puts the brain in a state that helps
both children and adults learn more and remember better,'
van der Meer said.

.. . .

I've lost some cursive over the years, but I do
write lots of notes - Post-Its rule ! However most
are block printed rather than cursive. It is true
that the younger ones CANNOT read cursive AT ALL
alas - but so far they're mostly OK with block letters
because that's what's on their phones/tablets. A quirk
of mine is to MIX block and cursive - say a capital "M"
followed by non-connected cursive 'ore' letters. The
kiddies aren't too fond of even that compromise.

So, soon - kind of NOW - when their phones and such
record/send/play-back ONLY voice and every command
is cutsie icons, we can expect "writing" to totally
disappear. At best they'll speak and the computer
will fill in the (more or less) correct text in
some little box.

I guess they'll never be able to read the Declaration
Of Independence or Bill Of Rights or any personal
letters from important past figures. Don't fret,
the computer will do it - after Wokie-Washing the
contents so no one will be "triggered" ....

This sort of disconnection from the past amounts
to a form of censorship - except The State does
not have to TRY to hide the material, it will
be 'hidden' because the pop won't be able to
read it at all. Fahrenheit 451 without all the
nasty carbon emissions ....

100+ years ago, literacy was rather rare. 200+
years ago it was far more rare. Class, and
intelligence, were indicated by an ability to
read and write. I think it does help organize
thinking. The illiterate were not "stupid"
as such, but still somewhat LIMITED.