A Journey back

Think about the latest technologies: smartphone, tablet, e-book and the super new one, which is probably going to become popular, a watch that allows a connection with the Net. Think about how they are changing our behaviors and habits; the possibility of surfing the Internet wherever you want; the use and abuse of these technologies. You can take millions of photos and videos. You can publish them and your thoughts on the Net: you are an Author! Can’t choose which book to carry with you on holiday? Bring all that inspire you on your e-book; thousands of book on one device. You have got used to these technologies, and now you can’t live without them.

Now, forget about them. Imagine a world without them. You don’t have to go back to long time ago, just few years. Yet, it seems hard. You still have your computer. You can use it for searching information, and for communicating with people near you or far away; people you know or you don’t know. You still have your digital camera to make videos and beautiful photos. You still have books in which to mentally escape. You are less connected with the Internet but more connected with this world.

Now, forget about the Internet. Forget about personal computers. Imagine a world without them. The step back is longer than the previous one. What can you do? You can go to the library and research through encyclopedias, books, and magazines; research with the paper. You can write using paper and pen or a typewriter. The paperwork is slower. What about entertainment? You still have books, television, radio and cinema. You watch the tv, listen to the radio or buy newspapers if you want to know what happens in the world. You have the fax if you want communicate in real time a message to the other part of the world.

Now, forget about television. Imagine a world without it. Your entertainment is prevalently outside. You can still take photos, but in less number. You have to print them if you want see them; the result is a surprise! Black and white photos are not only fascinating, but they are the common ones. The city is still full of advertisements, signboards, printed words on the buildings, on the concrete; printed words on the shop doors and inside, on the goods. Printed words in books, newspapers and magazines. The offset printer has a lot of work to do.

Now, forget about them. Imagine a world without the print. The step back is huge this time. It’s a jump to the world before 1450. The world communication is prevalently oral. Books are hand written by only a few people, the scribes, who work for the Church under poor conditions. It takes long hours and hard work to create a product only the rich can afford. Culture is only for a few. The majority of the people are illiterate. Your social status is inherited from your father. You can’t make progress up the social ladder; if your parents are poor, bad luck!

But there is a man who is working on a machine that will bring a lot of changes. A machine that will let you climb not only the social ladder, but the ladder that will bring you to the modern Era; the ladder you have just descended. This man is the German Johann Gutenberg, and the machine is the mechanical movable type printing press. The world will not be the same. Movable type printing press: what an invention!