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Subject:Paperless--BAH! From:"Paul R. Sawyer" <prsawyer -at- RS6000 -dot- CMP -dot- ILSTU -dot- EDU> Date:Thu, 26 Jan 1995 12:17:06 -0600
Dr. Davidson brings up some very good points, but I think he is far from on
target.
1--Paper is permanent? I don't think so. My financee's father's house
burned and he lost all of his paper documents. Paper yellows and
disintergrates with age, and once the process has started, it is almost
impossible to retard. I would much rather fire up diskcopy and back up my
disks when they start to age.
2--Paper in the legal system. There is no reason to think that the laws
will not evolve with culture. If Davidson would remember, deals used to be
finalized with a handshake and someone's word. That evolved into a
signature and I see no reason why the evolution should stop.
3--Paper is a publishing tradition? Tell that to the editors of magazines
that have gone on line--from Time to CycleWorld.
4--Paper is how we teach? I, for one, am teaching a intro to tech writing
class that is almost entirely paperless. My students enjoy it, and I think
they will benefit from the experience.
So, I think paperless is the way to go. It will be a long time coming, but
we will be there.
