Technology Products That Make Use of Paper Stationery

In the olden days, the invention and introduction of paper played a key role in communication. We are all familiar with papyrus and parchments that were used extensively before the widespread use of paper.

Paper entered as stationery and created a revolution - a paradigm shift to how civilizations communicated. The medium gave a big boost to thoughts and ideologies which could now be presented in ready forms. The World of literature and art was the greatest beneficiary. But another sector that grew tremendously was business and personal communication.

In the modern era, a simple form of stationery emerged. Pads, rolls, letterheads, envelopes, and folders all became popular for business communication. The card business swelled to unbelievable proportions as much desired means of communicating happiness, emotions, and greetings.

The Typewriter

Printing emerged as the next stage of evolution. The typewriter surfaced as major means of communication bringing in a revolution of shorts. No office was complete without the resounding staccato of beats of the typewriter be it public or private. The product used paper sheets and rolls for the output available at the stationers. Carbon copies could be created during the printing process and they were indispensable.

The machine required expertise to operate which came from practice. It created jobs for a large number of people who could type well in the language it carried.

After years of dominance, the typewriter is still in use albeit limited. Its electronic version also fared well. But as technology progressed its extensive use was overtaken by the dot matrix printer.

The dot matrix printer was a rugged long haul and reliable machine. It found extensive use in offices but much less in homes. This printer unlike the typewriter worked as a computer accessory and the input came from the desktop with printed and saved information. A command was required from the computer for the machine to function and did not require the continued presence

An extensive paper roll was attached to the printer using a daisy wheel which advanced as the printing proceeded. Carbon and carbon; fewer copies could be created with ease using the machine. Unlike the later type of printer, the process was very noisy and formed an indispensable part of office sounds like the typewriter.

The dot matrix printers are still in use albeit on a lesser scale their work has been overtaken by more advanced forms of printers that emerged as technology advanced.

The machine has a long history of development starting fifties. The inkjet printer could print letters as well as images. The use of cartridges emerged with the introduction of this machine which propels droplets onto the paper sheet being printed.

This printer also worked in the same manner as the dot matrix by being attached to the computer. There are two technologies associated continuous inkjet process and drop on demand method.

The print cartridge is divided into chambers containing heaters that pass a pulse of current causing vaporization of the ink forming a bubble, which is propelled as a droplet on the paper. The cartridge is available with the stationers and manufacturers.

In the case of thermal printers use a digital printing process to produce an image. The printing head selectively heats the specially coated thermal paper to produce an output.

Commercial applications include ATMs, petrol pumps, POS systems, kiosks, vouchers, labels, and for recording on cardiac monitors. Thermal papers are available at stationers as thermal rolls and sheets in various sizes depending upon the applications.

To get high-quality output on paper in terms of text and graphics laser printing is used. These printers find widespread usage due to quality output and economy. With the popularity of the machines, there has been a significant price reduction.

The laser beam projects an image of the page to be printed onto an electrically charged drum. Powdered ink or toner particles are electrostatically attracted to the charged area not under the scope of the beam. Thus the image gets transferred to paper by contact.

The paper passes through rollers where it is subjected to intense heat. The heat binds the toner to the paper. For color printing, colored inks are used.

These are available with printer paper sellers who also sell ink cartridges and rolls. All stationers keep the products used by these machines. The prices can be compared on websites before making a purchase.