Print and Modern thoughtWritten by Marlon D. Ludovice
The scientific revolution that would later challenge entrenched "truths" espoused by Church was also largely a consequence of print technology. The scientific principle of repeatability--the impartial verification of experimental results-- grew out of rapid and broad dissemination of scientific insights and discoveries that print allowed. The production of scientific knowledge accelerated markedly. The easy exchange of ideas gave rise to a scientific community that functioned without geographical constraints. This made it possible to systematize methodologies and to add sophistication to development of rational thought. As readily available books helped expand collective body of knowledge, indexes and cross-referencing emerged as ways of managing volumes of information and of making creative associations between seemingly unrelated ideas.Innovations in convenience of knowledge and formation of human thought that attended rise of print in Europe also influenced art, literature, philosophy and politics. The introduction of print material adds up to large and rises of different fields of endeavor. Thus, explosive innovation that characterized Renaissance was amplified, if not in part generated by, printing press. The rigidly fixed class structure which determined one's status from birth based on family property ownership began to yield to rise of an intellectual middle class. The possibility of changing one's status infused less privileged with ambition and a hunger for education. Print technology facilitated a communications revolution that reached deep into human modes of thought and social interaction. Print, along with spoken language, writing and electronic media, is thought of as one of markers of key historical shifts in communication that have attended social and intellectual transformation. Oral culture is passed from one generation to next through full sensory and emotional atmosphere of interpersonal interaction. Writing facilitates interpretation and reflection since memorization is no longer required for communication and processing of ideas. Recorded history could persist and be added to through centuries. Written manuscripts sparked a variation on oral tradition of communal story-telling--it became common for one person to read out loud to group.
| | Small Business Essentials: Start HereWritten by Karen Walker
Thinking of starting a business on line? If so there are two things you absolutely must commit to before ever opening shop on web. Any one who refuses to realistically consider these two factors should not be in business. That may sound a bit rough, but glut of businesses on line that ignore these factors will soon come to an end as customers demand service in return for their dollars.The first factor in determining whether you should even be doing business on line is your ability to develop a site that addresses needs of prospective customers. Is your site intuitive? That is, is it sensitive to needs and abilities of average person using site? After all, what makes sense to you might be as clear as mud to next guy. One inexpensive way to test is to ask acquaintances of varying abilities to test drive your site. Observe their interactions with your website and ask for feedback throughout process. You must be open to receiving honest critiques and be willing to use that information to make improvements. The easier your site is to use, wider audience appeal it will have. The other essential consideration, and most important, is your willingness to commit to providing good customer service. If you are a novice to business, take time to educate yourself. Furthermore, if you want to make money but don't want to deal with people, you should get a factory job or something that doesn't involve general public, because business ownership is not for you.
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