Stories; for thousands of years it relied on word of mouth, passed from generation to generation, with, I’m sure embellishment and exaggeration. Then we had clay tablets and the start of written language evolving from the Middle East, and the mysteries of hieroglyphics solved thousands of years later by the discovery of the Rosetta stone.
Quill pen on Vellum with illuminated detailing was a European development, but was so time consuming and difficult that it was used just for exceptional books such as altar bibles and documents for the wealthy elite. However it was William Caxton in 1476 that introduced the first printing press into England and started the long process of making the written word available to the general population.
The 1700’s saw the development of etching techniques that enabled mass produced book to have quality consistent illustrations and this period also covered the publishing of the first newspapers and periodicals in England. 1702 saw the world’s first daily newspaper, The Daily Courant, published and printed in London, lasting only until 1735. Lloyd’s List is the oldest surviving daily newspaper, first published in 1734 but now on-line only; it covers shipping and insurances news. People from a certain northern county have always had a lot to say for themselves, so it is no surprise the Yorkshire Post first published in 1754 is still printed today.
The Public Libraries Act of 1850 enabled local councils to open libraries and museums to the public a service still enjoyed and appreciated by most today. Penguin paperback books introduced in the UK from 1935 revolutionised the reading habits of the nation, although a resistance from traditional book sellers to the new format were pushed aside when Woolworths decided to stock them!
From 2007 the introduction of Kindle electronic readers and a host of similar devices were predicted to lead to the demise of the printed word, but the traditional ink on paper remains as popular as ever.
So where was all this blog content leading?? To the clever French idea of “vended” short stories at the touch of a button, available from a number of machines located around the city of Grenoble. When first installed about a year ago the initial eight story vending machines saw over 10,000 short stories printed out in just two weeks, in a format much like extended till receipts to interested readers. Buttons on the machine enable 1,3 or 5 minute stories to be selected depending on either your available time or attention span!
With a vending machine from KSV Vending you can select only drinks or snacks, but log onto our website for a regular short blog story or interesting facts and figures.
Written by: Colin from KSV.