The printing press has expanded our society’s knowledge and advanced our technology. The printing press has had major impacts directly and indirectly on historical, social, cultural, and political aspects of our society. The printing press allowed mass production, which consequently spread prints of all kinds around the world to differently types of people. This allowed for us to communicate to each other all around the world, sharing our knowledge and enhancing our society.
As the printing press developed and moved to printer’s workshops, as Eisenstein mentions, “ it revolutionized all forms of learning…particularly important for historical scholarship” (p.78). The printing press allowed people to spread works of literature, art, poetry, stories, etc. The printing press spread other’s knowledge, which in return created new ideas and advancements. For example, if I were to see someone else’s picture, it could spark new ideas in my head, and I would advance that drawing into something even better. All of these ideas that the printing press spread created the way our civilization socializes today. Many people such as Harvey Graff, argue that the Printing Press can be viewed as, “an educational reform movement…involved factors far beyond the religious and theological…economic, political, cultural, and social issues” (p.86). No longer did only the rich have access to prints of any sorts, with the printing press all economic classes had access to prints. For example, simple technologies such as posters were spread through out the villages. The invention of the printing press ultimately educated more of the world then just the wealthy. It increased the world’s overall well-being. The amount of people who could read may not have had a large increase, but people’s communication level definitely increased.
The I-pad and the Kindle have become the “new books” of our future. Many argue that we rely on these technologies and that they are decreasing our knowledge. Personally, I think that technology like I-pad and Kindle increase our technology, giving us easier access to valuable information. I do not think that the book will ever disappear, especially the Bible. For example, I-pods have become the new technology since the millennium, but CD’s are still created and used today. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of preference, and with the many personalities of the world, I believe the book, I-pad, and the Kindle, are here to stay. The I-pad does not only contain books, but so many apps that could be viewed as educational. For example, educational math games, maps, etc. I-pads and Kindles are also becoming socially trendy, which will encourage young people to read. Sites accessed through the I-pad such as Facebook may be viewed as non-sense, but in my opinion you are still practicing communication, writing, and reading skills. I do not personally own any technology that contains books on it, but if I could I would chose to. It would be more convenient to have a Kindle for example, It would save me space instead of having books all over the place. It would also save me time, books would be easy for me to access. Just because I would have the technology, wouldn’t mean that I would get rid of the books I did have, or that I would refuse to read a book, it’s about preference for me personally. Technology increases the spread of educational prints, Pham and Sarno state, “digital tools are making it possible for independent authors to publish and promote their books, causing an outpouring of written work on every topic imaginable”(pg1). Technology allows a huge increase of works to be shared around the world.
Technology will continue to advance, enhancing our communication skills. The printing press has been the direct cause of technology, which has impacted our society in every aspect. Just as Eisenstein states in her essay, “ Neither political, constitutional, ecclesiastical, and economic events, nor sociological, philosophical, and literary movements…can be taken into account without the influence of the printing press upon them” (p.79). The printing press has educated our population and allowed us to have advancements such as the Kindle and I-pad that only further advance our society.
Eisenstein, Elizabeth .Aspects of the Printing Revolution. In D. Crowley, P. Heyer, (Eds.), Communication in history: technology, culture, society. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Graff, Harvey. Early Modern Literacies. In D. Crowley, P. Heyer, (Eds.), Communication in history: technology, culture, society. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Eisenstein, Elizabeth .Aspects of the Printing Revolution. In D. Crowley, P. Heyer, (Eds.), Communication in history: technology, culture, society. Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
Pham, Alex, and David Sarno. "The Future of Reading." Physorg. N.p., 21 July 2010. Web. 17 Oct.2010.<http://www.physorg.com/news198955146.html>.
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