The invention of the printer dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The first electronic computer printer was developed in 1953 by Remington Rand for the Univac computer system, which marked the beginning of modern electronic printing technology. The invention of the printer is closely related to the application of computers, because with the development and popularization of computer technology, there is a growing demand for equipment that can output computer processing information.
The biggest difference between a printer and a traditional printing press is its working principle and range of applications. Traditional printing presses, such as movable type presses, were mainly used for large-scale text and image reproduction, and were technologies that emerged around the time of the Industrial Revolution, most notably the Gutenberg printing press, a technique invented by Johannes Gutenberg around 1440. Traditional printing techniques often require the production of fixed templates, which are suitable for mass production.
In contrast, electronic printers are designed to receive text and graphic data from a computer and convert it into paper documents. Printers enable individuals and businesses to quickly and easily convert electronic documents to hard copy, supporting small batch printing, even single document printing, which greatly improves productivity and flexibility. There are many types of printers, including dot matrix printers, inkjet printers, and laser printers, each with different printing technologies and application scenarios.
Overall, the invention of printers is closely related to the development of computers, and they have changed the way people process and distribute information. Modern printers offer greater flexibility, speed, and convenience than traditional presses, meeting the needs of both personal and business users.
Monitors and printers are very important components in a computer's output display device, but they are used on the computer for a different amount of time. The history of printers as output devices is a bit older than that of displays.
The first electronic computer printer was developed in 1953 for the Univac computer system, and the widespread use of monitors (especially ** Display Terminals, VDTs) came a little later. While early computer systems, such as the Eniac in the 1950s, used oscilloscope-like devices to directly observe calculations, these were not displays in the modern sense. Computer monitors in the real sense, especially the first-class display terminals used by access terminals and personal computers, were popularized until the late 1960s and early 1970s. For example, DEC's VT100 terminal, which was released in 1978 and became the industry's standard terminal, marked the beginning of modern computer monitors.
Therefore, it can be said that the application of printers as computer output display devices is earlier than that of monitors. Early printers allowed data and calculations to be permanently recorded and shared, while displays provided a real-time, dynamic way to view the data. Both have their own application scenarios and advantages, and jointly promote the development and popularization of computer technology.