Printing was the first true one-to-many communications capability and arguably played a causative role in three transforming events in Europe in the Middle Ages - the Reformation, the Renaissance and the Scientific Revolution - because of its new broadcast capabilities. Further, countries that severely restricted the use of the printing press in the Middle Ages saw their power and influence wane on the world stage. While there are still arguments about proper policies with respect to printing, history has literally been written by those whose policies were most conducive to the capabilities and potentialities of printing.

Internetted computers form the first true many-to-many (or any -to-many) communications capability. Even if one discounts much of the hype about the World Wide Web, it is not hard to imagine that internetted computers will have transformative effects on the world of the near and mid-future. Proper policies in these early days of the Internet are just as difficult to discern as they were in the early days of printing. Not only are there new capabilities arising from the Internet technologies, but, ironically, some of the successful policies related to printing (such as copyrights) are being superceded by the Internet. Further, developing policies that are most conducive to the capabilities and potentialities of internetted computers are likely to be just as important as they were in the early days of printing.

Unlike the early days of printing, with the uncertainties of today’s communications breakthrough we also have the history of a technology (and its era) that has important similarities as a communications medium. In the search for proper policies regarding internetted computers, one potentially fruitful approach is to examine that history for useful lessons. Like the early printing shops, this web site is intended to be a gathering place for those who would examine the history of printing for useful lessons in the Wild West days of the Internet.

Short of a chat room (always a future possibility), the Update button is intended to act as the reporting mechanism for progress in an investigation that is only just beginning.