I found the readings about receipts to be far more interesting that I had originally anticipated. Learning about the history of something that is so common in our daily lives always gives us more perspective and insight into the past, but the history of receipts in particular really humanized the people who first used them and showed how connected we still are to early civilizations. So much about human history can be revealed from this simple record-keeping system, from the kinds of things that people have purchased, delivered, or traded, to the methods in which we have kept receipts throughout history. There has always been a need to record things, and that need has evolved with us over time, to the point where we now have the option to receive receipts digitally or not at all. Another point that stood out to me is the importance of things like moveable type and how it relates to receipts, because it shows the evolution of technology and record-keeping throughout history and keeps us connected to those who first brought the system to life. I also found it interesting to look through the article of interesting receipts because it shows how many different forms one simple piece of paper can appear in, and how those with personalized ads, phrases, and other details can help form the identity of the companies who use them and set them apart from others.
My personal experience with receipts stems from their convenience and constant presence in my life. Receipts come with practically everything that we buy, and they can be used to split payments with other people, to track payments for various reasons, and some even come with coupons attached to them. For these reasons, receipts are an important part of our lives whether we notice it or not, and they come in handy more times than we might realize. It is interesting to think that something that we receive almost daily and often just throw away has such a complex history.
Found Article – “Receipt Paper: Everything You Need To Know”
After watching the video in class about how receipt paper is activated by heat, I wanted to look more into what the paper is made of that makes it the way it is. No ink is actually involved in the printing of a modern receipt because they are made of thermal paper that relies strictly on heat to display text and images. I learned that receipt paper is made up of several different coats, starting off with a base coat that gives it its unique texture that is smoother than regular paper. A thermal coat is made of many different chemicals, dyes, and sensitizers which promote the paper’s reaction to heat. Lastly, a top coat is used to increase the longevity of the print on the paper and to preserve it overtime. Due to the chemicals used, most receipt paper is not recyclable but some companies are making the switch to paper that does not contain said chemicals to make the process more eco-friendly.
