A New Interface

As the Roman Catholic Church grew across Europe, knowledge began to centralise. Monks labored to transcribe the Bible and other religious works while defining the page structure and layout of the written word. They created beautiful works of art through their illumination and helped to bring the written word and a new mode of knowledge sharing into the lives of those who could afford it. Unfortunately, the heavy labour of transcription meant that only a small quantity of books could be made each year. Then, in the middle of the 15th century, Johannes Gutenberg's invention of the printing press formed the defining moment in Europe's search for a better mass communication interface. An invention still important today, it made quick copying and mass dissemination of information possible. It also helped to standardise page structure and typography making it possible for more people to read and comprehend the text. The printed word remains the most trusted source in today's Information Age. The connected digital environment has again broadened access and added a new element, interactivity, into the formerly static page. However, digital media has yet to see its full potential as it remains tied to the traditions and axioms of print design that came before it. A new interface, free of the strictures of print design, could have an impact not unlike Gutenberg's invention of the printing press.