Time Versus Space-Based Modes (Nothing New)

In his final chapter of Literacy in the New Media Age, Kress states that “The screen trains its readers in certain ways, just as the page trained its readers in its ways: the latter had its uses and function and purposes, which were the uses and functions and purposes of the society in which it existed. The new form has its uses and functions and purposes in relation to new social, cultural, political and economic demands” (162 – 163). My problem with this statement is that Kress is (to a certain degree) implying that the page never adequately addressed various social, cultural, political, and economic issues, which of course is not true. Granted, I understand that Kress is trying to illuminate the notion of multimodality and that simply by viewing something on a screen (even if it appears exactly the same as it did in print – i.e. scanned books, journal articles, etc.) that there are various societal underpinnings at work, but hasn’t that always been the case with regard to advancements in technology and literacy? The invention of the printing press had huge implications for all facets of life because knowledge (eventually) could be readily disseminated. So, I guess my question is what is Kress bringing to the discussion? Is he simply trying to convey that the incorporation of visual elements (either by themselves or coupled with text) requires a new lens in which to perceive the world (his whole notion of time versus space-based modes)? If so, the point seems rather moot as even he acknowledges that images (although not widely used) were incorporated into texts as early as the Renaissance. Therefore, his time vs. space-based mode of thinking / viewing is really nothing new.