Well of course not, but this article on the demise of thorn:
http://www.kuro5hin.org/?op=displaystory;sid=2002/11/12/31017/737
highlights the importance of character inclusion in technology
advances. I didn't realize the issue went back this far, I imagine
the advent of the typewriter must have had a similar impact in places.
Do people here know of other cases where advances in publishing
technology influenced the loss, or gain, of characters?
/Daniel