The Machine That Made Us tells the story of the technology of the printing press that influenced the increasing availability of writing to the world’s population-the film’s focus is based on the revolutionary changes that Gutenberg’s invention (McGrady) brought about. In fact, Gutenberg’s typewriter was the first mass distribution device that allowed everyone to embrace the technology of writing. This included the production of chronicles and newspapers as well as fiction, letters, and notes. It should be noted that this invention gave mankind the opportunity to print any texts and distribute them. People interested in writing began to learn the technology of writing, which significantly increased the target audience of the printing press. Thus, it is easy to conclude that Gutenberg’s printing press truly democratized writing because it provided access to these technologies for everyone, not just a select elite.
It is not difficult to draw a parallel between the printing press and the computers that began to proliferate in the mass market at the end of the last century. Computers were not originally designed for the average user, but decades later they have become part of almost everyone’s daily routine. Using a computer has made writing processes much easier, including for people who lack the physical ability to write mechanically. In addition, the use of computers since childhood in younger generations allows them to develop a talent for writing. Now, instead of using enormous amounts of paper and effort to write, people are rewriting and writing literature digitally, which greatly increases accessibility and engagement. Consequently, computers can be seen as modern Gutenberg printing presses, which also democratize accessibility to writing.
Reference
The Machine That Made Us. Directed by Patrick McGrady, performance by Stephen Fry, Barbara Rupp, and Cornelia Schneider, BBC, 2008.