The Printing Press and the Modern Day Internet

The printing press was a revolutionary invention created by German Johannes Gutenberg in 1440. At first, using movable wooden blocks, he printed differing documents by pressing paper upon the inked blocks. Then, he decided that by using steel molds, he could easily produce multiple moveable types for additional presses. Some scholars believe that it was actually another man, Janszoon Koster with making moveable metal type. It simply depends on whom you listen too.

In 1444, it's thought that he produced his first printed version of the Gutenberg Bible, which could be made quickly and reliably using his new invention. This bible quickly became popular throughout Europe, and soon presses were being used for even more books.

More people learned to read across Europe, with the purchase of books becoming ever more inexpensive. The printing press caused the average man to be able to afford buying books, novels, and plays. As more people learned to read, the gap between the elite and the common man slowly began to close.

Through advances over the years, the printing press has become more automated, which makes it even easier to produce large numbers of books. The modern day press, however, works using the same general process that Gutenberg perfected.

Though the Chinese are generally credited with using the first block printing, using clay tiles, it wasn't until the invention of the printing press that the form become automated. Also, it was now easier and faster, using a machine rather than hand setting tiles.

With the creation of the computer and Internet, there is slowly another revolution taking place. While we will always have books, we now have the ability to access worldwide documents with a few clicks of the mouse. Now, everything from news to books, photographs and video can be seen from sources throughout the world.

Today a document in the news from London, can be read easily on screen, or in printed form, from a computer in New York. The advent of the Internet has greatly increased communication, from local church bulletins, to lengthy court documents halfway around the world. We see the world through both pictures and video, watching events unfold as they happen. Like with the invention of television, the Internet is slowly making the world a smaller place.

It's yet to be seen if the computer will have the impact on reading and understanding that the printing press had for medieval Europe, but so far it is slowly bringing a greater understanding of cultures across our globe. Yet still remember, without the invention of the printing press, the knowledge we have today would be still be researched and invented, not part of our daily lives.

Source:
http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/printpress.htm