Weblog by Pierre de Jaeger featuring articles on comics books, généalogies, illustration, science/fiction and sounds.

The hypomnema (Greek. υπομνημα, plural υπομνηματα, hypomnemata) is a special type of notebook used in ancient Greek society by variety of common people such as tradesmen, philosophers, theologians, and students to keep personal records and formulate opinions about the experience of the self. This habitual type of personal notekeeping was coming into vogue in Plato’s time (ca. 4th century BC) and represents one of western culture’s earliest technological advancements to create a conscious logos.

This new technology was as disruptive to ancient Greek society as the introduction of the computer into private life today. The hypomnemata served the growing cultivated public in many ways - as account books, public registers, guides for conduct, and individual notebooks serving as memoranda.
(source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypomnemata)