Section 3: ο»ΏNew machines provide new technology solutions.ο»Ώ

Key Ideas     Unit Checklist

  Unit D: Section 3 – Introduction


Figure D.S.3.1 – ο»ΏThe printing press transformed how people share information and ideas.

Figure D.S.3.2 – Before the printing press was invented, people wrote books by hand.


Figure D.S.3.3 – Metal letters form words in an old printing press.
Communication Machines: The Printing Press

Before the 1400s, people wrote and copied books by hand. It took a long time to copy a single book. As a result, most people did not own books and could not read.

In the 1440s, a German man named Johannes Gutenberg invented a printing press machine. It contained small metal letters that could be arranged into words. To print a page, the machine’s operator spread ink over the letters and covered them with a piece of paper. Pulling a lever caused the machine to press the paper firmly against the inked letters. Repeating this process made many identical pages quickly.

The printing press changed communication during the medieval Renaissance. People could quickly print and distribute many copies of books and newspapers, which contained new scientific and political ideas. More people learned to read because many more books existed. Sharing information allowed people to build on each other’s ideas to make new inventions and to change the organization of society.

Printing presses are still important machines today. However, modern printing presses are large, complex machines that are connected to computers.


Figure D.S.3.4 – ο»ΏThe metal letters were arranged to form the words printed in ink on paper.

Figure D.S.3.5 – Modern printing presses are fast, complex machines.

 Watch More

Printing Press

This video shows a working model of a Renaissance printing press. How many simple machines do you see in the printing press?

 
 
 
 
Watch this video to see a massive modern printing press in action.

 
 

  Words to Think About:

Check out the word cloud below. It pictures the important words that you are going to learn in this section. Watch for these words, and combinations of these words, as you read. When you see them highlighted, you can click on them to learn more about what the word means. You can also visit the course glossary and read definitions for all of these words.


Lessons in This Section

Lesson D9:  Evaluating a Mechanical Device
Key Question – How do we decide if a machine meets our needs?

Lesson D10:  Machines and Society
Key Question – How do machines affect people and the environment?

Lesson D11: New Thinking, New Machines
Key Question – How will new machines change our lives in the future?
Reading and Materials for This Section

Science in Action 8
Reading: Pages 304–321

Materials Lists for Unit:
Master List of all materials
Materials organized by lesson and activity
Figure D.S.3.6 – Typewriters make writing faster.
Figure D.S.3.7 – Pressing a typewriter key makes a letter hammer rise.


Figure D.S.3.8 – A letter hammer strikes an ink ribbon and makes a letter imprint on paper.
Communication Machines: The Typewriter

The typewriter was invented in the 1860's. This invention made it possible for people to write quickly and neatly at home or in an office.

Typewriter keys are attached to letter hammer levers. Pressing a typewriter key makes its attached letter hammer move upward. A metal letter is located at the end of the hammer lever. The metal letter strikes an ink ribbon against the paper. The pressure from the letter hammer transfers ink from the ribbon to the paper.

The invention of personal home computers in the 1980’s made typewriters obsolete. However, typing, which is now called keyboarding, is still a very useful skill for writing ideas quickly!

 Watch More

Typewriter

Watch this video to hear the story of a young writer who writes stories on typewriters.

 
 
 
 
The letters on a typewriter keyboard are not in alphabetical order – they seem to be all mixed-up! Watch this video to learn the reason behind the arrangement of the QWERTY keyboard.