Paper Trail

[Oneironaut Zero]

So, does it bother anyone else but me that we'll soon be in an age where it seems paper may not be used anymore? Will records, receipts, identity, everything, be discontinued - any static proof of information? Do you think things will things ever get that far? Maybe I mean less on a global scale than I do in reference to the American government. If so, what kind of vulnerabilities does that leave us open to? Who's for it, and who else just considers it a bad idea?

[Howie]

So, does it bother anyone else but me that we'll soon be in an age where it seems paper may not be used anymore? Will records, receipts, identity, everything, be discontinued - any static proof of information? Do you think things will things ever get that far? Maybe I mean less on a global scale than I do in reference to the American government. If so, what kind of vulnerabilities does that leave us open to? Who's for it, and who else just considers it a bad idea?[/b] My dad and I were just discussing this. It is not happening. At least not to the degree alot of people thought. Maybe it will, but there is INCREASED paperwork in some cases. It has been so with where my father works. (They refurbished the entire office with new, innovative computers) My dad files more paper work now than before. My sister also works at a job behind a computer. When we brought it up to her she blew a gasket. She is also dealing with a ton of paper work backing up data and such. The same goes for my company. Small but the amount of paper work is asinine. Look at the World Trade Center. The massive amounts of files and paperwork floating through the air. I think you point is valid though. It is a bit scary. Maybe that is why everyone uses online and computers, yet still insists on printing a copy. I would like to see it save resources. Where we stand now, we generate the power to run this virtual age and also use the resources to back it all up. Is there a good alternative?

[Descensus]

My dad scanned and printed the serial number/information of all our laptops and put them in a safe .

[Tsen]

Makes a 1984ish scenario a whole hell of a lot more plausible, and yeah, that does bother me.

[Never]

It does freak me out. Soon, identification and the like will not be necessary anymore. Just scan your arm. There are some places that have already offered implants for payment. What sucks is some people are not hard to manipulate. Tell them they cannot have their drinks if they don't get the chip; watch them say "oh in that case..." Oh well, I don't really worry about it. I just know I will never comply. I still don't even have a credit card.

[Neruo]

Yeah, digitalization does have some down-sides. A huge malfunction in the people-register-bot2084 could wipe everyone's identity of the map or something. However, I think it will not lead to stuff like 1984, but I do think that something bad might happen that is indirectly caused by (in the future) full digitalization. But bad things happen all the time.