Every new technology has its day in the sun before it is replaced by a cheaper, faster and more efficient one. In this article we are going to discuss a technology that has been around for well over five centuries now and why its days may be numbered. The device we are referring to is the printing press and it was created by Johannes Gutenberg in 1440.
Before that time, of course, all newspapers, pamphlets and manuscripts had to be written out by hand. Then the former goldsmith came along and introduced a new method that would allow a printer to make as many copies of a text as his heart desired.
Fast forward more than half a millennium to when the computer came on the scene. Suddenly, people were getting most of their information from a standard computer screen. Though print remained the most popular medium for the transmission of news and print entertainment (books), in time people grew accustomed to reading things on the computer screen. Little did they know it, but many former bibliophiles were becoming computer or e-readers .
As you might expect, the 'e' stands for electronic and many people actually preferred this new form of reading. However, it was incredibly inconvenient. Not only did you have to be connected to the internet, but you also had to have a big, bulky laptop with you at all times. That was, of course, until the introduction of the portable e-reader.
While the first generation of electronic readers were simplistic with black-and-white text and files that took a lot of time to download, these new e-readers have improved graphics and can even connect to the internet. But the primary selling point of these items is that they offer improved memory and portability. That means you can take your books or stories any where you want to go.
