History of Fonts and QR Code Menus

History of Fonts

• Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press in the 15th century, which led to mass production of books.
• Gutenberg crafted the first font, inspired by Blackletter calligraphy.
• Nicolas Jenson created a simpler font in 1470, allowing for more words per page.
• Aldus Manutius and Francesco Griffo pioneered the italic typeform in 1501, originally criticized for poor readability but now used for emphasis.
• William Caslon introduced the Old Style in 1734, improving letter distinguishability and readability.
• John Baskerville developed Transitional typefaces with distinct letters, but his fonts were initially criticized for their darkness and unorthodox appearance.
• Firmin Didot and Giambattista Bodoni created serif fonts in the 1780s, better suited for headlines and titles, but less readable at smaller sizes.

QR Code Menus

• Anne Thériault argues that traditional menus offer a unique literary quality and sensory experience, unlike QR codes.
• QR codes were widely adopted during the pandemic for safety reasons.
• Critics argue that physical menus serve as historical documents, offering insight into cultural, culinary, and societal trends.
• Menus can reflect changes in ingredients, including instances of extinction, and serve as archival traces of diets and demand.
• Menus can reveal gender-oriented societal norms and expectations.

Richard III

• Richard III died in the War of the Roses and was buried at Greyfriars Church.
• Henry VIII destroyed the church, and Richard III's grave was lost for centuries.
• In 2012, archaeologists unearthed his remains under a parking lot.
• Forensic analysis revealed Richard III had scoliosis, a condition that could not have been hidden from those around him.

Buddhist Temple in Pakistan

• An ancient Buddhist temple was unearthed in the historical region of Gandhara, which was a trade crossroads and cultural meeting place between India, Central Asia and the Middle East.
• The temple was likely abandoned following an earthquake in the third century C.E.
• Archaeologists unearthed coins, jewellery, statues, seals, pottery fragments and other ancient artefacts.

Fastest Human in History?

• Footprints found in Mungo National Park, Australia, suggest the existence of a very fast runner.
• Researchers found 700 footprints, some grouped in sets of 23 tracks, belonging to families, hunters, and other groups who crossed the wetlands.
• One individual was running at 37 km/h on mud, barefoot and without intense training, which is close to Usain Bolt's average speed.

Confederate Statues

• Confederate statues in Richmond, Virginia, were removed after protests following George Floyd's murder.
• The statues are now in storage, representing a painful chapter of the racial past.
• Decisions about the statues' fate include returning them to streets, creating a contextualized display, or demolition.
• Potential destruction could take 5-10 years if decided.
• Concerns exist about extremist groups who wish to preserve the statues.

Explore the fascinating evolution of fonts from Gutenberg's pioneering print to modern QR code menus. Dive into the key developments and figures in typography, as well as contemporary debates surrounding the digital transition of dining menus. This quiz will test your knowledge on both historical and modern aspects of typography and menus.