Date: Mon, 11 Nov 1996 17:53:03 GMT Server: NCSA/1.5 Content-type: text/html Last-modified: Tue, 03 Sep 1996 23:00:31 GMT Content-length: 3146 CS302 Printing and Paper Use Statement

CS302 Printing and Paper Use Statement
Sections 16 and 17

Promise of the Paperless Office

Several decades ago, experts predicted computer technology would create a "Paperless Office." This environment would allow people to freely exchange ideas and work entirely within the electronic realm. The reality is just the opposite: computer-illiterate managers get printed e-mail from secretaries, memoes distributed on mailing-lists are printed out for reference, documents are reproduced on paper for editing and perusal. None of these are necessary actions - habit, laziness, and unwillingness to learn new skills lead to their perpetuation.

Modern file systems, editors, and viewers allow access to virtually any document or message in a pleasing, easily alterable, and perfectly retrievable format. Printing of documents is, except for those rare instances when computers are not available, unnecessary. Even if personal predeliction precludes environmental concern, the economic cost is non-trivial, particularly when hidden costs are considered (toner cartridges, paper-bleaching, etc).

I encourage CS302 students (and anyone else reading this) to consider the impact of their personal paper use, especially that which does not end in recycling. In CS302, I will try to restrict paper use to: programming assignments, homeworks, quizzes, and exams.



Copyright (c) 1995 by Chris Weaver. The opinions herein are solely those of the author.


Chris Weaver, Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Last Change: 9/3/96 by Chris Weaver