How does Neal Stephenson use imagery in The Diamond Age, or, Young Lady's Illustrated Primer?

Imagery:

"As she laid out plates and silver, Hackworth picked up a large sheet of blank paper. 'The usual,' he said, and then the paper was no longer blank; now it was the front page of the Times." Hackworth's morning ruminations, p. 31

"'What are letters?' 'Kinda like mediaglyphics except they're all black, and they're tiny, they don't move, they're old and boring and really hard to read. But you can use 'em to make short words for long words.'"