The growing technology of eBooks has the potential to break down the barriers of ignorance and illiteracy on a global scale. Poised to be the next phase in the printing revolution, eBooks will allow the proliferation of knowledge that is readily accessible and relatively inexpensive. How do I know this? Because it’s happened before.
Illustration of the Gutenberg Press
The printing press and its social effects
The world’s first printing press was invented over 500 years ago by Johannes Gutenberg and his associates, Andreas Dritzehn and Andreas Heilmann. As an extension of movable type brought west by the Chinese, Gutenberg added his skills as a goldsmith and the invention of the screw press to create a printing press that would lead to the mass production of books.
Prior 1439, books had been printed and illustrated by hand in monasteries. This resulted in expensive books that only went to the upper class. Gutenberg’s invention was able to produce many books at a price the middle class could afford, resulting in better education and higher literacy rates throughout Germany. Due to his success, other printmakers sought to own their own printing presses and soon all of Europe was affected by the invention.
Project Gutenberg
Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, had similar aspirations. In 1971, Hart was allowed access to one of the few supercomputers at that time. Hart was so grateful that he decided he would do something to “give back” to the world, and thus the idea of eBooks came about.
When the concept of eBooks was realized, it had a very limited audience as the digitized materials focused on small interest groups. Lacking commercial appeal, they became an underground movement that spawned many different formats. Because there wasn’t a standard format, the small group of followers were fragmented further. As the Internet grew in popularity, the eBook fanbase was able to publish their own digital catalogs — eventually spreading the concept and building interest in the idea.
A variety of eReaders available today
The potential of eBooks
To consumers, eBooks make it possible to contain a library in the palm of their hand. It can be accessed at any time and in any location. Aside from convenience, eBooks also possess the ability to enlarge text or read back the content for those with poor or non-existing eyesight. And this technology advances still.
Today, we’re witness to a new agent of change, as a myriad of eBook technologies enter the market. Within the past few years, their numbers have grown from Amazon’s Kindle and Sony’s Reader, to now include models from Barnes & Noble, Apple, and even some not-so-famous brands like Neophonie.
Like the Gutenberg press, eBooks started as an idea that has since grown to something more. Whole libraries of knowledge will have the capability to spread not just across a country or continent, but across the planet. As technology advances, more eBooks will enter the market (just as more printing presses started in Europe) and the price for such technology will fall. Both of these factors were key to the first printing revolution, and I believe we’re witnessing its next steps.
Source(s):
- “eBooks.” Wikipedia, 19 Apr. 2010. Web.
- Hart, Michael. “Gutenberg:The History and Philosophy of Project Gutenberg.” Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg, Aug. 1992. Web. 19 Apr 2010.
- “Printing Press.” Wikipedia, 19 Ap. 2010. Web.
- Steiner, Hans-Christoph. “Movable Type: Pi Sheng, 1041.” Nonlinear History of New Media Timeline Spring 2004. Web.
Sarah Sachs
the media beat 