In 1971, Gary Starkweather at Xerox PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) in California invented and demonstrated the first laser printer. This technology used a laser beam to produce high-quality text and graphics on paper. The laser printer would become a crucial device for producing professional-looking documents, including books and literary magazines, directly from a computer.

The laser printer was a key technology in the desktop publishing revolution. It allowed poets and small literary presses to produce high-quality, camera-ready copies of their work without the expense of traditional typesetting. This technology helped to democratize the publishing process, enabling independent voices and avant-garde poetry to reach a wider audience. It was a crucial step towards the 'print-on-demand' and self-publishing models that are common today.