End of paper & pen in sight?!
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
India
October 25, 2011 3:04am CST
Most people would agree with me that the advancement of information technology and IT enabled services has brought about significant changes in the way we record & share our thoughts, plans and accounts with others; the way all commerce is done; and the way records are archived or stored.
The computer has replaced paper very significantly: in offices, in factories, in hospitals, in stores and cinema halls, in colleges & universities-almost every where. Online banking, ticketing, shopping, document handling-the ways & places where pen & paper have been displaced is phenomenal.
We must be extremely pleased if we can be instrumental in taking this forward faster because of the positive impact on the environment.
Perhaps there are could be some limitations to total displacement: students may continue to write notes & exams with pen & paper only. The other dimension could be that those who will not afford computers [in spite of technology having become so affordable, especially in remote areas].
Overall, the time may not be far off in future when pen & paper become archive elements, to be in museum showcases?
Your thoughts?
1 person likes this
6 responses
@marguicha (216137)
• Chile
26 Oct 11
Although there are many old uses of paper and pen that have become obsolete, there are still other where it is part of our daily life.
I make lists with paper and pen for the super. I write bits of this and that while I´m waiting seated somewhere (I´m a writer in my native language).
I still give paper and colores pencils to my smaller grandchildren and play with pencils and pens with them.
I ´m glad that, if that is completly replaced, it will not be in my time.
@marguicha (216137)
• Chile
27 Oct 11
I don´t know if I hate cellphones, organizers and the like per se or it´s because my eyes don´t see small letters and numbers (even with glasses) and my hands are more clumsy everyday. My computer is a big thing with a giant monitor. The keyboard has to be white with black letters or I don´t see them
. Age is not nice
.
So Ikeep in touch with the new generation by teaching them with tools I used but I confess that if I told them the games I played when I was a girl, I would hve to teach them a new language also
. Age is not nice.
So Ikeep in touch with the new generation by teaching them with tools I used but I confess that if I told them the games I played when I was a girl, I would hve to teach them a new language also@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
26 Oct 11
Hello marguicha, children are far faster in getting adept at using info gadgets than us. Yet, while we are in transition [or even thereafter] contemporary habits continue to be taught & I recognize you do that with your grandchildren.
I make my lists, reminders, appointments, notes-almost everything with the organizer on my device which I find handy, convenient and easy to maneuver. The speed with which electronic media has replaced hand written registers, bills, tickets and even legal documents makes me think the progress could be more rapid. :D
Thanks for your thoughts.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
26 Oct 11
Personally, I don't think there would be an end to the paper and pen as writing instrument. I would agree that your perspective is logical, plausible and very real, However, it is also real that some people have a certain 'feel' or 'psychology' ( the terms used are meant loosely) for writing in thi matter.
Though I will admit that I sometimes write and produce more words when I am writing with a computer as an instrument. However, I also cannot deny how my physical notes, doosles, musings and outlines help me a lot when I am writing in digital form. I guess when I am writing in paper, tehre is a certain mindset that makes me think deeper and when I write on my computer, I often wirte on impulse.
With regard to your opinion and those responses stated above, I say - 'to each, his own.' We all have our choices and and our own preferences. We are grateful for the technology but there are things that we do that are old-fashioned but still remain with us throughout the years. You can count writing on appear as one of them.
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
27 Oct 11
HI jeanneyvonne. You provide an interesting insight in your comment: that when you are writing on paper there is a certain mindset that makes me think deeper and when I write on my computer, I often write on impulse'. I pondered over it before writing this response and I think as a phenomenon, it is true with me too! But as you mention, 'each to his own', I tend to think of it as an advantage yet. While I don't want to take away from the fact that writing on paper gets one to think deeper.
Certainly value all opinions & thanks for the comment. Sorry, the response is late. :(
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
26 Oct 11
I think that we would all be a bunch of fools if we stopped using, or didn't teach our children how to use paper and pen/pencils. Yes, technology can be a wonderful and helpful tool, but it should be used as just that, a tool. What would happen to us and the next generation if paper and pens/pencils became totally obselete and the computer system crashed. There would be no back-up plan to save important documents, therefore; there would be a lot of imformation lost completely.
I feel that the best solution is to always have the knowledge and willingness to keep records on paper and to always teach our children the importance of knowing how to do things without the aid of technology.
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
26 Oct 11
Hi lynnemg printed documents are as susceptible as the computer hard disks to be lost due to accidents of fire, flooding or theft. Today's computer databases handle enormous amount of data and it would be naive to think that such invaluable data would be simply left to the mercy of providence for safety. Nah, there are digitized back ups & disaster recovery servers [called redundant servers] to manage such contingencies. According to me, two things will dictate whether pen & paper will remain in use: economics, which may decide affordability of computers for all people and the passion for writing with pen/pencil.
Thanks for the views.
@Liliac26 (557)
• Romania
25 Oct 11
I find it hard to believe that they will disappear completely, but people will use them less and less. I know it's good for trees and the environment, but I still find it rather sad. Handwriting has so much character, while a printed page or a word document are just...anonymous. I, for one, like writing on paper. I even like the sound of the pen. So, I guess I'll always be taking notes on paper, even if I use my computer for my other writings.
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
26 Oct 11
Hi Liliac, I'm very passionate about writing on paper and have a good hand too. :) I'm equally or even more fascinated about the ways of multimedia. Innovations can change lifestyles. Just using the postulation that the conventional tools might become less & less used.
Thanks for the comment.
@Bluedoll (16774)
• Canada
25 Oct 11
I had the privilege of working with a young colleague with a university degree. She was very intelligent and skilled at her work. I looked up to her. One day she wrote on a a note to me and passed it over because it was necessary and convenient. I thought it was a code in secret. Later when we were alone and no one was listening, I asked her what it meant. When she told me, I found out it was nothing special. I asked her why she wrote it that way and she said oh, it is my lousy printing, sorry. She never learned to write, all the time she was going through high school and getting her degree. What is with that? The laptop method.
@vasumathi (436)
• India
25 Oct 11
Pen and paper will be placed in museum. Our future generation will not able to use the pen and paper, due to the advancement of information technology.
@Pushhyarag2000 (1416)
• India
26 Oct 11
It may take time, but looking at the rapid developments in recent years, it is more likely. Thanks for commenting.
