The other day I was listening to a radio programme about book binding (no, I’m not sure why I was listening, if that’s what you are thinking). This programme talked about the elaborate process that the ancient book-binders used to go through to create what would become a work of art. One particular book that was mentioned took 2 years to bind – not to create, to bind.

On returning from holidays we wanted an physical album of photographs to show people; it’s still a much better way of interacting with the images in many situations.

What did I do?

• Downloaded the photographs from my camera.
• Sorted through them for the ones I wanted to put in the album.
• Downloaded some code from a web site where I was going to get the photos printed.
• Started the code and imported the photos.
• Looked a the book that it created automatically and made a few changes.
• Sent the book for printing.
• 3 days later (because of the weekend) my photo album had arrived.

The album looks wonderfully professional and cost me less than the price of a new shirt and only about twice the price of a paperback at the local book store.

I’m not suggesting that my photograph album compares with ancient book binding – but the change in the process of creating a book is incredible. What’s more I undertook this transaction using commodity technology and a service from a budget supermarket. It’s not specialised, it’s not “out there”, it’s normal life.

Sometimes it’s good to remember how far we have come.