In modern day it seems that everything that can be used as a writing space is used.  It is nearly impossible to walk through a city street and not see everything from paper, to cars, buildings and even the pavement with writing on them.

 

            Advertisements on the side of taxi cabs, trucks and other vehicles have become a new way to convey messages to people.  This writing space is generally used to attract interest or to inform people of a company or service.  Although there is another form of writing that is commonly seen on vehicles, graffiti.

 

            Graffiti started with people writing their names and street numbers on public buildings, street signs or more commonly public transportation. Graffiti artists started experimenting with different styles, colors and mediums once they grew tired of writing their names in plain letters. This new form of graffiti blossomed into artistic works that are common sights in today‚Äôs world.

 

            Perhaps the most common of all writing spaces in the modern world is paper.  Newspapers, magazines, and books are all examples of how paper is used as a common space for writing in today‚Äôs world.  Paper, invented in 105 AD by Ts‚Äôai Lun of China, is as popular of a writing space today as it has ever been in the past.  Flyers, product packages, and an infinite amount of uses have been found for paper in modern times.  With the invention of the copper printing press the way in witch paper was used changed drastically.  It worked by pouring ink into metal grooves carved out to make letters. The ink stayed in the grooves after the surface was wiped clean, then paper was inserted and pressed to make a copy of what had been carved into the metal. This could be done several times, creating mass printings. The copper printing press led to moveable type printing presses and to printing as it is known today.

 

            Growing in popularity is the use of electronic writing spaces.  These mediums, such as computers, personal data organizers and even televisions are all examples of how electronic writing spaces are taking over the modern world.  Computers are now used to convey everything from the daily news stories to personal conversations between people.  Sending letters is slowly becoming obsolete due to the growing popularity of electronic mail.  Companies now can create web pages and advertisements for their products or services that can reach the most remote areas of the world with greater ease than ever before.  Letters that in the past may have taken weeks to reach their destination now arrive instantly thanks to electronic writing spaces.  Personal data organizers have become common place in modern times.  These organizers are like paperless note pads that can store information for people indefinitely.   Televisions are another form of modern writing space.  Advertisements and news can be broadcast directly into people‚Äôs homes with ease now.  Information that previously was read over the radio or newspaper can now be displayed directly on a screen in a person‚Äôs living room.

 

            Writing spaces have changed drastically throughout history.  New innovations will continue to revolutionize writing into the future.  Even though writing spaces have changed so much throughout history one thing remains constant, it is all meant to convey a message and communicate with other people.

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