Written text was hard to come by before invention of printers. Passing stories orally or writing them out each time were your only options for saying what you needed to, and oral stories are often twisted by the passage of time. Most people couldn't read, as there wasn't anything much around for them to practice on. After making their appearance in their simplest form, that of a wax seal, in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the ball started it's slow roll down the hill of progress.
Wax seals used in Mesopotamia were generally cylinder seals. Carved from stone, the cylindrical chunks had raised images in their surface. When pressed into wax or moist clay, the image would be left behind. Cylinder seals were generally used as a way to guarantee authenticity of important documents. Samples of woodblock printing have been found that date back to before 220 AD. The sample, found in China, is from the Han Dynasty.
Around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Widely regarded as one of the most significant inventions in history, Gutenberg based his printing press off the existing technology of screw presses. Soon, books were available to common man, and reading and the printing of text became popular. Scientists, especially, benefited from the invention. Experiments were much easier to pass on and replicate.
It wasn't until the 1960's that the laser printer and photocopiers began appearing in offices the world over. 9 years behind the Xerox machine, the laser types were invented at Xerox by Gary Starkweather, a Xerox researcher. These are now available at a reasonable price to pretty much everyone, and come in every size from office bulk to tiny home printer.
3D types sound far-fetched and futuristic, but they're already in use in multiple industries. They use digital designs to create extremely accurate models. Used especially in medical research and design, the models produced have lead to a leap in advancements.
The process of printing something in 3D can take only a few hours. Its results are far more accurate than carving models by hand, and take less time. By adding layers of material instead of removing them, the machines are able to pinpoint dimensions. Before long, 3D printers are projected to become available to the general public.
The steady advancement in printer technology has afforded it the unique opportunity of having quite a few generations watch its progress. However, the last few advancements have been big, and quite close together. From wood pressed to silk to whatever they come up with next, printers have come a long way, and will continue to do so.
Wax seals used in Mesopotamia were generally cylinder seals. Carved from stone, the cylindrical chunks had raised images in their surface. When pressed into wax or moist clay, the image would be left behind. Cylinder seals were generally used as a way to guarantee authenticity of important documents. Samples of woodblock printing have been found that date back to before 220 AD. The sample, found in China, is from the Han Dynasty.
Around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press. Widely regarded as one of the most significant inventions in history, Gutenberg based his printing press off the existing technology of screw presses. Soon, books were available to common man, and reading and the printing of text became popular. Scientists, especially, benefited from the invention. Experiments were much easier to pass on and replicate.
It wasn't until the 1960's that the laser printer and photocopiers began appearing in offices the world over. 9 years behind the Xerox machine, the laser types were invented at Xerox by Gary Starkweather, a Xerox researcher. These are now available at a reasonable price to pretty much everyone, and come in every size from office bulk to tiny home printer.
3D types sound far-fetched and futuristic, but they're already in use in multiple industries. They use digital designs to create extremely accurate models. Used especially in medical research and design, the models produced have lead to a leap in advancements.
The process of printing something in 3D can take only a few hours. Its results are far more accurate than carving models by hand, and take less time. By adding layers of material instead of removing them, the machines are able to pinpoint dimensions. Before long, 3D printers are projected to become available to the general public.
The steady advancement in printer technology has afforded it the unique opportunity of having quite a few generations watch its progress. However, the last few advancements have been big, and quite close together. From wood pressed to silk to whatever they come up with next, printers have come a long way, and will continue to do so.
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