Disappearance Of Paper
Editorial August 2019 Editorial
www.ink2quill.com

So many people have talked about paper disappearing with analogue technology. Magazines, newspapers even books are being replaced by the online, digital media. Bookstores have been closing. This is a fact. I´ve heard it said that this is better for the environment since you make paper out of trees and you fill dumps with most of the discarded paper.

So what other changes will come with this still evolving digital age media? What are some of the pros and cons of this digital media world already upon us? Well, for starters it means access to so much more instantly. As we all know most of us have access to books, knowledge, maps and all kinds of other info at our fingertips. Paper maps are a thing of the past when travelling. It´s either GPS or some app that will guide us to our destination. Another unforeseen consequence are the ratings of places we want to visit or things we want to purchase or consume. There exists a vast, ever growing collective that rates everything and influences opinions on nearly everything. This amorphous mass does not have a name yet but it surely has influence in human affairs. This amorphous mass is composed of people because it´s their opinions and their labors and more. It´s also computer generated to an extent. Some sci-fi buffs even call the growing amorphous mass of knowledge and labor and decision making software a budding AI consciousness. How many more steps of development must this mass of knowledge take before it will show clear signs of autonomy and independence? We should give it a better name before that happens. How about calling it Odysseus, Lancelot, Atalanta or Rama?

John

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