Mass society
An outdated notion?The concept of the era of mass media is rooted in the concept that there is a nameless mass to which one should appeal to through communicative means. Theoretical use of the term began in the 19th century.
Mechanised writing
From the hand to the machineThe writer of texts internalised every single character in its consummate form by practicing for such a long time that he could write it down freehand at the right place when needed. The first step towards mechanising writing was to establish the most perfect written form in stencils and other resources.
Media convergence
An increasingly multimedia worldIn the modern media age, the once rigid boundaries between traditional media channels are gradually being broken down against the onslaught of media convergence. Films, literature, radio and television broadcasts are no longer consumed in their traditional original media, but rather as parts of a tailor-made data package.
Monasteries as centres of book culture
Spirituality, science and art in the Late Middle AgesIn the European monasteries, which were centres of education in the Middle Ages, a great deal of reading and writing was done. Large monasteries maintained a school for Latin, a library and a scriptorium.
Moving Pictures
From photography to filmIn the 19th century, industrialisation brought about a large number of technological developments. In 1826, Frenchman Josep Nicéphore Niépce took the first photograph on his parents’ estate, the first surviving daguerreotype depicting people was taken twelve years later.
Museum
The A-Z of industrialisationA museum is an educational (Education) place dedicated to the arts, culture and the sciences (Science), in which collections of interesting objects are presented to the public. Since the 19th century, museums have been facilities that collect, store, carry out research and communicate.
Nature printing
Rise and fall of a printing techniqueNature printing is a simple printing process that nevertheless allows for very accurate illustrations of botanical and zoological objects. Leonardo da Vinci was one of the first to experiment with impressions of plant leaves.
Networking – the global brain
Global data access via digital cloudsPeople working together online form complex social entities, which have often been ascribed – perhaps too enthusiastically at times – to the advantages of digital swarm intelligence. One brilliant textbook example of jointly exerted effort is Wikipedia, the international encyclopaedia of knowledge, which is open to contributions from anyone and continues to grow by the year.
Networks
The A-Z of industrialisationNetworks consist of nodes that are connected to one another. Railway lines that run between two railway intersections make it possible to transport trading goods (Trade) or people (Travelling); telegraph lines allow news and information to be transmitted, and pipelines enable the transport of liquids and gases (Energy).
New printing processes for mass production
Reproductions for everyday useUntil the end of the 18th century, only two procedures were used in Europe for creating print products. Alongside relief printing as a traditional book printing technique based on raised letters, intaglio developed from the artistic precursors copper engraving, etching and photoengraving.
