The Printing Press

The Printing Process

In nineteenth-century society, a time well versed in the uses and advantages of Gutenberg’s printing press, the typewriter changed the way people thought about writing. Since the introduction of the printing press four centuries earlier, there had been a very limited amount of new inventions pertaining to writing or the world of the mechanized press. Advancements certainly had been made to modernize the printing process, but the typewriter was the next invention that would change the face of writing. The typewriter made writing more common and accessible and loosened up proper business etiquette. Professionals shifted from the mindset of having to write a handwritten letter regarding company updates and accepted the notion of being able to type out a business memo. The process of typing also affected the way authors wrote and what they thought about writing as it allowed them to become more involved in publication.

In the business world of the late 1800s, offices experienced an influx of typewriters and with them, female typists prepared to take dictation. (McLuhan, Understanding Media, 259) Prior to the rise of typewriters, good handwriting and a thoughtful handwritten letter had been what was expected by the codes of professional conduct. However, in the typewriter-driven age, it became possible to tap out quick letters and more casual drafts. Soon, no business could be without a multitude of typewriters as the economy adapted to the speed of the new machines. This quicker pace of the business world began to permeate Western society as the efficiency of companies changed the speed at which people lived. The phrase “send me a memo on that” was on the lips of hundreds of businessmen. (McLuhan, ...

... middle of paper ...

...d processor continues to open up new ways of thinking for authors, by broadening what they think about and connecting them to the realm of publishing. Now, messages have become even more informal and common as people use the keyboards on their computers to quickly write e-mails and instant messages. Companies can be linked internationally and quickly due to the fast connections communication has developed though the Internet. Authors also have quick access to other writers’ ideas and the option to post them on the web. However, the word processor has taken some of the charm and creative spirit out of the typewriter. It seems that anyone can be an author with the spell-checking and thesaurus capabilities of the modern PC, as if there is no need for creativity and true talent.

Works Cited:

McLuhan, Marshal. (2002). Understanding Media. Massachusetts: MIT.