Superbook Show - Technology Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Hosts: Quinn and Alithea
• Topic: Technology
• Setting: Museum of the Bible
• Discussing the impact of technology on society

Technology Discussion

• Quinn's update: Posting on Facebook about museum experience
• Quinn's opinions on technology:
  • Phones and computers are incredible
  • Mention of various tech: television, game stations, iPods, motorcycles
  • Discussion of apps that enhance experiences (e.g., restaurant locators, Krispy Kreme alerts)

Revolutionary Technology

• Introduction of a significant piece of technology:
  • Responsible for major societal shifts
  • Examples:
    • Fall of empires
    • Rise of democracy
    • Concept of universal education
    • Modern scientific revolution
• Key revelation: All of these advancements stem from the same technology.

The Gutenberg Bible

• Introduction to expert Jackie at the museum
• Gutenberg Press:
  • Printed the first book in the Western Hemisphere: The Gutenberg Bible
  • Year of invention: 1450
  • Prior to this, books were handwritten, taking up to 3 years to produce a single Bible.
  • Gutenberg printed 182 copies in just 3 years.

Accessibility of Knowledge

• Increased availability of books due to faster and cheaper production
• Literacy rates soared as books became accessible to the common person
• Number of books in the Western Hemisphere:
  • Early 1400s: ~100,000 books
  • Late 1400s: ~10 million books

Characteristics of Gutenberg's Press

• No surviving images of Gutenberg's press
• Speculation that it was based on wine or olive presses

Printing Demonstration

• Interactive segment with guests Quinn and Alithea
• Language of the text: Latin (not accessible to common people at the time)
• Explanation of movable type and the printing process:
  • Setting up letters took an extensive amount of time (up to 14 hours for a single page)
  • Use of leather ink balls and rollers for inking texts
  • Frisket used to stabilize paper during printing
• Step-by-step process of printing demonstrated:
  1. Arranging typeset
  2. Inking the typeset
  3. Placing paper and pressing down
  4. Revealing the printed page

Conclusion

• The printing press transformed society by making books accessible
• Encouragement to engage with the Superbook Show and download the app
• Reminder of the connectivity and influence of technology in education and literacy.