In this industry it seems that the technology changes almost daily —faster, brighter, better. In order to compete you must be adept at change. One must embrace change or be overwhelmed by it. In industry, it’s usually technology that is the impetus of change. And a single technology may trigger waves of change that last a very long time.

 

Technology is evolutionary by nature. A technological idea is presented, improved upon by others; that idea then sparks another new idea, which might then lead to an entirely new technology. And sometimes technology itself takes time to develop and mature. 

 

Take the automobile, for example. Theoretical plans for motor vehicles were originally drawn up by Leonardo Da Vinci in the early 1500s, and then 100 years later by Isaac Newton. But the technology of the day was not up to fulfilling the plans, and it wasn’t until the 1700s that the first successful steam-driven attempt at motor driven locomotion was made by an obscure French mechanic. And the first commercially available automobiles of the late 1800s and early 1900s were slow, expensive things that often broke down and were continually met with derision from the general public. Yet look at the impact it’s had on society. What would Leonardo make of the new Ford Fusion, or today’s road system? 

 

I mean, when Gutenberg invented the printing press, did he have any notion of the impact his little contraption would have? 

 

Do you think he could have envisioned the impossible amounts of material that gets printed every day in our digital, computerized world? Could he possibly fathom the sophistication of today’s large-format digital printers? Or even the concept of digital printing? Picture him wandering around at the show floor at The NBM Show. Likely he would think he’d been spirited off by demons and that this array of printing and graphics machinery was the Devil’s own work. It would simply be too much.

 

Then again, when old Johannes revealed his invention back in 1436, I’m sure he must have blown a few good German minds. What were all those studious Belgian Monks going to do now? Brew beer? That single invention, which evolved over centuries, totally changed our entire society. 

 

But the rate of change, the rate of evolution that we see taking place around us today far exceeds what those historical gentlemen experienced. An idea can go from concept to implementation and commercialization in very short order. Look at how fast the electronic digital signage industry is evolving. Look at the incredible advancements in LED lighting technology, in digital printing and cutting, in dimensional sign fabrication. Shop owners tell me they sometimes feel like every time they purchase a new piece of sophisticated (and expensive) equipment, it becomes hopelessly outdated before it’s even paid for. 

 

But change is inevitable. When you look at how fast this industry changes—you simply have to shrug your shoulders, crank up that big UV-curing flatbed printer with its auto-nesting RIP and JDF workflow enhancements, and thank our friend Mr. Gutenberg for getting the ball rolling.

 

Okay, back to work.