# Saving the Alphabet

> creative work by Alan Bigelow

**Wikidata**: [Q132198150](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q132198150)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/saving-the-alphabet

## Summary
Saving the Alphabet is a 2005 digital poetry work created by Alan Bigelow, designed as an interactive web application using Adobe Flash. It exemplifies the intersection of creative writing and digital media, where users engage with textual elements in a software-based environment.

## Key Facts
- **Publication Date**: 2005  
- **Author**: Alan Bigelow  
- **Genre**: Digital poetry  
- **Software Engine**: Adobe Flash  
- **Distribution Format**: Web page  
- **Instance Of**: Creative work and application (software for end-users)  
- **Language**: English  
- **ELMCIP ID**: 1682 (identifier in digital poetry archives)  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Saving the Alphabet?  
A: Saving the Alphabet is an interactive digital poetry piece by Alan Bigelow, delivered as a web-based application built with Adobe Flash and published in 2005.  

### Q: Who created Saving the Alphabet?  
A: It was created by Alan Bigelow, an author known for digital literary works.  

### Q: What technology powers Saving the Alphabet?  
A: The application relies on Adobe Flash as its software engine, requiring a web browser with Flash support.  

### Q: Where can Saving the Alphabet be accessed?  
A: It is distributed as a web page, though original Flash compatibility may depend on browser support.  

## Why It Matters  
Saving the Alphabet represents a significant early example of digital poetry, blending literary artistry with interactive software. It highlights how creative writing can evolve through technology, providing readers with a participatory experience beyond static text. As a foundational work in digital literature, it demonstrates the potential of applications to transform poetic expression and user engagement. Its relevance persists in the study of digital humanities and experimental literature, showcasing the creative possibilities of emerging platforms in the mid-2000s.  

## Notable For  
- Pioneering use of Adobe Flash for literary interaction, merging poetry with web-based application design.  
- Recognition in digital poetry archives under ELMCIP ID 1682, affirming its scholarly significance.  
- Classification as both a "creative work" and an "application," bridging art and software development.  

## Body  
### Overview  
Saving the Alphabet is a digital poetry piece authored by Alan Bigelow in 2005. It exists as a web-based application, leveraging Adobe Flash technology to deliver an interactive experience. The work is categorized under both digital poetry and applications, emphasizing its dual nature as artistic expression and functional software.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Software Engine**: Adobe Flash  
- **Distribution Format**: Web page  
- **Language**: English  
- **Compatibility**: Requires a web browser with Flash plugin support  

### Context and Classification  
- **Genre**: Digital poetry  
- **Instance Of**: Creative work and application (class)  
- **Identifier**: ELMCIP ID 1682  
- **Creator**: Alan Bigelow  
- **Publication Year**: 2005  

### Reception and Relevance  
The work is documented in digital poetry databases, such as the ELMCIP (Electronic Literature Making a Case for the Preservation) project, which archives significant works in the field. Its inclusion underscores its role in the development of interactive literary art, particularly during the Flash-dominated era of web-based creative tools.