Alternatives to printing
Paperless options, screen reading, speed reading, editing online,
suitable monitors, networks, telecommuting
MISSION STATEMENT | Paperless News Snippets | HOME

Basically all written and graphic materials are now-a-days created in computer code whereas it had to be on stone, papyrus, etc. historically and later on paper with all sorts of writing tools, of which typewriters in the most recent past. Although most people have, where possible, migrated to using computers to do their work, like to create text, drawings, designs and even art, the tradition to present the work on paper is still perpetuated with little restraint at tremendous cost monetarilly and to the environment. To save on paper, ways must therefore to be found to circumvent the need to print most creations that can just as well be viewed or read on monitors and television sets or cast on sceens. This objective can be achieved, inter alia, in the following ways:

• Make screen reading more acceptable and efficient.Writing and presentation styles will need to be adapted. The following was what Dr. Simon Ronald, Director of Creative Windoware Pty Ltd., had to say about our aim to promote speed reading technology: 
  "Philip, yes I believe you are right to promote screen reading, the internet is making a big impact on the way that the average person reads and communicates".

• Adapt monitors to reading styles. It must, for instance, be possible to read while relaxing in bed or in an easy chair. Flat and monitors and ones that can be worn like glasses, are already available, and should be suitable for these purposes, combined with a wireless mouse for scrolling purposes. Pricing should also facilitate deploying more monitors throughout the home or office.
• Do editing onscreen. Many people print documents to edit them effectively, something which should be avoided by learning to do onscreen editing.
• Read e-mail onscreen. Many people print their e-mail messages to read them  - for various reasons. It should be avoided by transfering e-mail to portable devices. By using these devices time is also not lost to react on messages.

• Read the news online. Media sites offer top stories and more.

• Publish books on demand. This way books don't gather dust on shelves and it enables many more authors to publish since print volumes don't need to be large to be be economical. The rate of development and increase of knowledge today cause books to be outdated when they become available or soon after. With Electronically stored books this isn't a problem, since they can be scrapped without a loss of the costs of the materials (paper - trees, water & and chemicals), production, transport, storage, etc., or they can be updated.

• Share documents and communicate over office networks  and online messaging systems.

• Send Cyber Postcards & Christmas cards.
  See http://www.metla.fi/archive/forest/1995/12/msg00204.html.
  Download the software FREE from: http://www.click.com.au/ark
• Cut down on the use of paper money and checks by means of electronic transactions, viz.
• Utilize the technical advantages of electronic documents and screen reading:
  • Enabled: Electronic networks, the Internet, telecommuting, e-mail, etc.
  • Tremendous savings in storage space for documents.
  • Online Storage Facilities can be used, like Freediskspace.Com, X-Drive, etc.
  • Enormousely increased the lifespan of stored documents.
  • Ease of electronic back-up and duplication prevent loss of data.
  • Preclude unavailablity of documents due to simultaneous multi- accessing on networks.
  • Documents don't need to be carted around between users.
  • Documents can be updated automatically.
  • Operations can be completely mobile. See:  http://www.cris.com/~Hwsmith/Paprless-bak.HTML
  • Software can be used to increase reading speed.
  • Highlighting and different colors increase comprehension and retention.
  • Hyperlinked references and "Find" capabilities in software ease sourcing.
  • Enables electronic dissemination of news. Readers can subscribe to e-news and e-zenes of interest to them. Push technology can also be implemented to supply relevant matter according to reader's interests. It obviates the practice of including diverse subject material in the same publication to satisfy the needs of individuals with different  interests - it leads to parts of newspapers being trashed with hardly a glance at them.
  • Multimedia enhancement can be added to increase comprehension and retention.
  • Interaction by e-mail with authors, discussion forums, other readers, etc.
  • Creates much cheaper, searchable ways to advertise.
  • It promotes freedom of speech and individual's democratic right to express themselves.