Fiat Lux

Abstract

"In principio creavit Deus caleum et terram." These are the first words of the text of the first book to be printed with moveable metal type, the great 42-Line Bible that was produced at Mainz in approximately 1455 (1). The climate of human communication was forever changed, and a broadening of the dissemination of ideas emerged as the concept and practical realization of information transfer experienced an immense escalation and a new dimension (2). These issues and the significance of the emergence of the automated print medium are eloquently detailed in the essay "Gutenberg Recycled" by the noted scholar of European literature, Stanford's Gerald Gillespie (3), in this issue of Neurosurgery. After experiencing a half of a millennium of influence, the advent of the capability and acceptance of the electronic communication offering word and image transmission over the Internet promises another remarkable potential that can be described as imposing in scope. The current capabilities, promise, and problems of Internet technology and publication are appropriately detailed by Internet authority Lyndon Holmes and senior publisher Timothy Grayson (4). With this issue, Neurosurgery fully immerses itself in the capabilities of this new communication mode, offering complete and immediate delivery of each issue at press time to subscribers worldwide. Previous delays in postal transfer are no longer a concern. The greater dimensions of the Internet will be reflected in the online edition. New parameters of scientific communication that include video capabilities and instantaneous archival electronic interfaces will be exploited to the fullest, with electronic manuscript submission and review pending. As always, in both editions, the strict guidelines of classical peer review will be meticulously maintained. The flexibility and spectrum in the medium provide opportunities for global educational interfaces and information dissemination that are truly astounding. As the first major journal in neuroscience to offer full online transmission, the publication and the field of neurological surgery truly enter a new era that promises the revolution into the 21st century that Gutenberg provided at Mainz in 1455! FigureFigureMichael L.J. Apuzzo Los Angeles, California

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