Johannes Gutenberg
In the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg revolutionizes the medium 'text'. He is the first person to use moveable type in the book printing process. Centuries later, printers are still utilizing the same technology, combining individual types to make words and sentences. In 1810, Friedrich Gottlob Koenig develops the first flatbed cylinder printing press - the so-called "Schnellpresse" - and print technology advances with quantum leaps.
Writing World History
"The biggest event in world history" is how the French author Victor Hugo called the invention of print. The cast metal for Gutenberg's letter types consisted of lead, zinc and various alloys which cooled down quickly and could withstand the high pressure from the press perfectly. The press was a screw press used for effectively applying the printed image onto paper and parchment. This tech- nique was by far superior to the wood print method used hitherto.
