Printing Then and Now: Part I (Overview)

Who would have thought that a simple machine will greatly enhance our lives? What used to be a long and tedious task can now be done in just a matter of seconds. No doubt, the printing press is one of the greatest inventions in the history of mankind. From Gutenberg’s printing press to today’s modern computer-operated printing machines, a great deal of changes has gone through the print industry.

But why aren’t we using the same press printers and publishers have used in the 15^th and 16^th century? What changed with Gutenberg’s invention? Simply put, technology evolved. As people look for better, quicker, and more comfortable means of printing, new technologies have been adapted. It started with steam engines, then later on transformed into electrical engines, and today, we have the computers. Even students can now create and print their own materials. With access to a personal computer or laptop, they can already be the author, editor, and printer of their materials.

Who knows that the future holds? Perhaps future generations will be able to create far better printing machines that will again revolutionize the print industry.