Epson’s Evolution – Printers Through The Years

Technology is the fastest moving industry on earth. From the typewriter to the laptop, or the original mobile to an iPhone revolution. Advancements in technology are like death and taxes, inevitable. Not too many people realise that one of the most innovative industries and advances technologies has come from the humble printer. Take a step back and appreciate the evolution of printers across the years.

Inkjet Printing:

One of the early, but major, developments came with the creation of the inkjet printer. An epson inkjet print uses droplets of ink to recreate the image required. The development of this technology was pushed heavily throughout the 1950’s. First used to print medical labels, the technology is still widely used today, with the epson ink cartridges and is dispersed via a nozzle in the printer itself. The inkjet printer changed the printing landscape through its ability to reproduce digital images and paved way for innovation in the technology to follow.

Lasers:

Laser printing was the next big advancement in printing technology. Performed through an electrostatic process, laser printing produces a high quality print with repetitive laser beams passing backwards and forwards over a cylinder called the drum. Developed in the 1970’s through an innovative hub controlled by Xerox, the laser printer was designed as an entire office solution before transitioning into home printing as well. Laser printers continue to be the widely adopted and endorsed solution for many individuals and workplaces today. The question really becomes one of longevity for the laser system as opposed to innovation of the technology.

Wi-Fi:

When considering home printing, one the most successful innovations has come through the development of Wi-Fi enabled printers. Being able to print remotely and wirelessly has made the life of many consumers much simpler. Wi-Fi technology, and the integration into printers, has meant the end of endless cord tangles and missing connections. Not just for the home printer, many offices have adapted this technology and enjoy printing a document with only a click.

Dynamic Systems:

Another technological development which has made life easier for offices across the world, is the multifunctional printing system. These systems bring together multiple systems into one, such as printing, scanning and photocopying. These printers have been available for many years, but technology advancements continue to evolve the usefulness and effectiveness of these systems. Most multifunctional systems now have the capability to scan direct to email inboxes as well as the ability to photocopy multiple pages at a time as opposed to one by one. If that isn’t enough, some multifunctional systems now include the ability to collate and staple prints for the meeting. The evolution of this technology has made these systems more effective as well as more affordable.

Image Enhancement:

Gone are the days where you had to search for the best image you could or evaluate as many options as possible. Printers today have evolved to include image enhancement technology, meaning no matter what quality the image or text is you are trying to print, the end result will be readable and useable. Not only does this evolution improve the outcome, but means resources can be better spent on the problems that matter.

Printing has evolved quite dramatically when you spend the time to understand where it started to where we are now. From the reliable inkjet and laser solutions which are still present today, to the technological advancements which haven’t necessarily changes the core process, but instead improved the effectiveness of the systems to save resources and wasted time in both the office and the home.