Why the Paperless Office is a Myth in a Society Accustomed to Printers and Printing

It's not easy to imagine our lives without paper, ink, and printers. Since childhood, we have been fascinated by the touch and feel of paper, and we've witnessed the importance attached to it by our parents and elders. As young children, we may have even tried our hand at writing on paper, quickly realizing that certain documents held great significance for adults.

It's worth noting that paper itself is an invention of ancient civilizations. The Egyptians, for instance, used a plant called papyrus to create paper, and it's possible that other civilizations also developed similar methods around the same time.

Throughout history, paper has been valued for its convenience. It can be folded, written on, and corrected easily. Different types of paper serve various purposes and are relatively easy to carry around. This mobility and ease of use have made paper a prominent medium in our lives.

 

The Digital Age and the Promise of a Paperless Society

 

The concept of a paperless office is often associated with the ideals of a cashless society. But the gist of this is that offices can save money by reducing their reliance on paper.

 

However, the problem with a paperless office lies in the fact that paper is more convenient than its digital counterparts. Consider the scenario of a cyber-attack that wipes away all digital files, or the unfortunate incidents of data breaches that expose sensitive customer information. Hackers may also target paperless offices, stealing sensitive business data. These risks make the complete transition to a paperless office a challenging prospect.

 

Indeed, a fully paperless office could become a reality in the future, but we first need to address the challenges posed by slow computers and tablets. Currently, there seems to be a disconnect between operating systems and hardware, making it difficult to optimize devices for faster performance. To achieve a paperless office, we require more advanced resources from the hardware side, such as faster microprocessors and larger RAM capacities. Unfortunately, the demand for resources by modern operating systems often outpaces the capabilities of current hardware. This presents a significant obstacle to the realization of a paperless office.

The Ancient World and the Possibility of a Paperless Society

Surprisingly, the idea of a paperless society isn't entirely new. Almost 5000 years ago, the Sumerians in Mesopotamia used clay tablets to record their civilization. They documented medical and cooking recipes, news, and various other important information.

This historical example shows us that a paperless office, futuristic office automation, and a paperless society are indeed possible. However, it requires the development of reliable devices that can operate smoothly without glitches, sluggishness, or latency. Only when we have dependable and optimized devices can we truly envision a paperless office and, ultimately, a paperless society.