Blog Post #5 EOTO: Technology Presentations

The Printing Press

Miss Claire Barnes did an excellent job explaining the invention and evolution of the printing press. She gave so much detail about this important technological invention and the impact it has made on our lives today. The Printing Press was created in order to keep up with the increasing demand of books and texts across the world. Claire starts back in the 3rd century with the Tang Dynasty of China. We are typically under the assumption that the printing press was invented by Johannes Gutenburg during the 15th century, however, Claire explains that it the very first version actually originated during the 3rd century. The first method used was a woodblock printing technique on textiles. This kick-started the printing press because then during the 6th and 10th centuries individuals began printing text. 

Most people do not understand the impact that the printing press had on our modern world today. We would not have textbooks to study from or novels to read during our free time. The people of these centuries had a higher demand books and texts because education was becoming more prevalent. In turn, this higher demand called for more time spent with the woodblock technique, which was not ideal. Prior to the printing press, books were being transcribed by hand on wooden blocks which was time-consuming and very inconvenient. The printing press allowed easy mass production and release of written materials which was more affordable for individuals across the world. This invention also allowed information to be distributed everywhere which in turn led to a more educated and informed population. 

So, how does the printing press really work? Claire went into great detail about the function of the machine and educated the class on each step. First, an image is pressed onto a metal plate by a chemical reaction. Water is then rolled across the metal plate and covers the areas where there is no image. Next, ink is rolled onto the metal plate covering the image. Finally, the metal plate is pressed against the paper to transfer the image. 

This invention was clearly a pivotal moment in our world's history. However, with every invention and idea there will unfortunately be negatives of some sort. The printing press was found to emit toxins from the ink and paper which did lead to widespread pollution during this era. A major negative that came of mass production, was the necessary exploitation of middle-class workers and children. Since there were many machines able to be producing texts at the same time, factories became a necessity and workers were needed which led to child labor and grueling hours for middle-class workers. This is certainly not the way in our society now because we have technology. While the negatives are extremely recognizable, it is also difficult to deny that the negatives outweigh the positives. To recap the positive outcomes of the printing press, it is faster, cheaper, and more affordable to produce texts and books. This machine allows for uniform production of books and many copies can be made in the same exact format. Overall, this invention revolutionized the way that every society receives information, impacting everyone everywhere. This invention changed our world and we are still benefitting from it today. 

Claire did an excellent job at not only giving an engaging and interesting presentation, but also at informing each of her classmates about an influential invention that still positively impacts us today!