The first item on my 2013 to-do list was to replace the paper calendar on the refrigerator. Yes, after spending my entire post-college career working in the information technology field, I still use a paper calendar on the fridge. Am I a Luddite? No, I’ve found that paper often works better than technology. A paper calendar still works best for reminding the family what is going on today, this week and this month.
Despite all of the technology in my life, I still use paper in a number of other areas:
- The newspaper: Reading the paper in my living room is so much more relaxing than reading the news on a computer or tablet screen. The newspaper also has a bigger display.
- Magazines: I like to take magazines with me when I’ll be sitting around in a waiting area or while traveling. They are flat and easy to pack.
- Books: Again, I find reading a book more comfortable than reading text on a screen. The E Ink used on electronic readers does help, but if I have to do any note taking, I find it easier on a paper book.
- Printed photographs in an album: I’ve used digital cameras since 2003, but I still enjoy printing the photographs and putting them in albums. I like having something physical to look at and albums are easy to pass around at family gatherings.
- Greeting cards: I still enjoy sending and receiving greeting cards in the mail. There is still something exciting about opening an envelope and reading what your friend or family member has to say.
- Notepads: I like to store information in Evernote, but for quick note taking on the fly, nothing beats a pen and a pad of paper.
- Shopping lists: Using a smart phone or tablet for a run through the grocery store is unwieldy. Pen and paper still work best for me.
The best thing of all about paper is it never needs charging!
Are you a technologist who still uses paper? Let’s hear about it in the comments.
Leave a Reply