Unlike later authors who focused on technical checklists (e.g., "How to use Excel" or "How to browse the web"), Gilster focused on cognition. In his book (published by John Wiley & Sons), he argued that the rapid proliferation of the internet required a new kind of mental agility.

In an era dominated by AI-generated content, TikTok algorithms, and deepfake videos, we often think of "digital literacy" as a new, ever-evolving skill set. But the foundational text that coined the term is decades old.

Gilster, Paul. Digital Literacy . Wiley Computer Pub., 1997.