Jun 16 2009
Is Paper Going Extinct?
Paper was first used by the ancient Egyptians around 3,500 B.C., in the form of papyrus fibers (thus, from whence the word “paper” is derived). But with the advances in technology that digitize and optimize the exchange and storage of information, should paper be put on the Endangered List?
With the instant, free accessibility of news content on the Internet, we’re watching our print newspapers and magazines fall into decline. In the book industry, we see e-books and digital e-readers, like the Amazon Kindle, starting to make a dent in the printed book market. Authors have even started autographing Kindles instead of books! With the rising usage of broadband internet access and facsimile transmittals of information, the United States Postal Service has less and less mail to process. Some are even predicting that the postal service may altogether cease to exist within the next few years.
What does this mean to how we live, work and do business? Could we adjust to a paperless world? My cell phone, computer files and the Internet certainly make my life easier than if I had to keep up with all of that on paper. But personally, there is still something comforting and safe to me about keeping a good ‘ole pad and pen on me at all times. It’s my security blanket. Power outages happen; files get corrupted; emails get deleted. But when you write something down on paper, it’s durable and lasting and difficult to lose.
One thing to be said for using less paper is that it creates less waste. But the alternative creates a different type of waste that can have an equally negative impact: electronic waste. And the extra amount of power we are using to keep our cell phones, computers and servers running 24/7 certainly doesn’t do the environment any favors.
What do you think? Is paper living out its twilight years?
About The Author: Anna Howland
Anna Howland is the Associate Director of Marketing at the American Biographical Institute. She graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2003 with a degree in English Literature. Anna enjoys using the power of the written word to reach people in meaningful ways. Through her knowledge of language, her skill of communicating important messages through writing, and her ability to connect with people on a personal level, she has played an integral role in developing the content of Women That Network. Her insight on communicating effectively helps WTN members to make the important connections that are so vital to reaching their career potential. Anna can be reached at ahowland@abiworldwide.com.
2 Responses to “Is Paper Going Extinct?”
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I agree with Anna’s “a good ‘ole pad and pen.” When I want to record my thoughts and life’s activities I don’t want to do it on a computer. I have a nice journal that sits beside my couch at home. Today most of us are tied to a computer in some way which is why my handwriting isn’t as good as it used to be. Regardless, when I feel like reflecting, I enjoy writing my thoughts by hand in the journal. It seems much more personal and permanent.
While I am not against new technology, such as e-books and digital e-readers, there is something comforting about spending time in my library. The simple task of choosing a book to read is enjoyable. I love having a book in my hands. It travels with me well and is easy to repeat reading if necessary. The joy of a good book and turning the last page is not something I want to do electronically.
I continue to believe that printed paper will be around for a long time. Think of not experiencing a trip to the library. This isn’t something that I want to see happen. I would like to read other comments about this.
I share in Anna and Janet’s nostalgia for classic pen and paper. Though being “wired” offers convenience to many aspects of my lifestyle, nothing is more enjoyable than cozying up with an old leather bound book, or chicken scratching a note to a dear friend. In fact, most of my childhood was spent journaling.
I often come across numerous dusty boxes, swollen with fabric-covered accounts of my journey into womanhood. Each time I revisit my journals it’s like unearthing a time capsule. I treasure these volumes more than anything, as I can revisit precious moments of yesteryear, like those spent with my late father. It is also intriguing to see how the progression of pages reflects my growth as a writer. I could never imagine cracking open a laptop computer to gain the same pleasure and contentment.
Though I do not journal nearly as often, I do maintain an intimate web of handwritten communication with select friends from all chapters of my life. Several times a month, we pause from our busy lives to send each other handwritten letters. It is a medium in which we can confide in each other and relay details of our developing lives—weddings, world travel, professional development, various hopes and dreams. It may take an extra moment for each of us to locate a stamp and select stationary, but through the handwritten word we share a bond that we can maintain no matter the miles between us. Email and text messaging could never measure up.
Long live paper!