Technology, newspapers, the future

Image by Szymon Kochanski via Flickr

Technology, newspapers, the future

By Denise Scammon

Technological advances and inventions have occurred throughout history that have either fulfilled a need or c0me about as a secondary use of another technology. These inventions affected society and  sometimes created the need for other technologies to be in place to be useful. Rarely was an invention created perfectly; most technology needs modification after being created.

3500 BC to 2900 BC Writing systems evolved from pictographs to the alphabet.

Significance: Communication between people.

The use of pictures to depict words was inconvenient for anything more than abstract meanings. Cuneiform writing evolved from
pictographs, and used both phonetics and semantics.

1270 BC The first encyclopedia is produced. A compilation of knowledge.

Significance: Society wants to archive and record knowledge. Still being archived and recorded today.

900 BC Postal service developed.

530 BC Libraries created as source of written literature and reference books.

500 – 105 BC Convenience was just as much a factor in modifying inventions and using the latest technologies BC as it is today. Writing products changed from papyrus to parchment to true paper as portability became a convenience.

Communication from 14-1650 AD: The biggest technological advances were in written communications, especially the printing press and movable type, although visual communication made its appearance with the Camera Obscura.

Books with bindings developed 100 AD because loose pages were inconvenient.

Wooden printing press, symbols on wooden block, invented in China 305 AD. Movable type invented (clay-based) in China, 1049 AD. Printing press and movable type promoted invention of newspaper in Europe 1450 AD.
Significance: Books, newspapers; sharing of news and knowledge. These technologies are still relevant today; however, digital
technologies are beginning to replace print products.

First daily newspaper “Leipzig” 1650 AD. Published at least four times a week. Articles were brief.

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