When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

re: When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

Nik — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 09:43:28 GMT

There's a good summary of the signature issues under UK law at http://www.out-law.com/page-443, and a recent update in their Spring 2006 edition http://www.out-law.com/PDF/out-law_spring06%20lores.pdf

Height of daftness in this is our QA system. The documents are all electronic; printed copies are considered uncontrolled. But we still have to sign a sheet of paper, that has no connection to the electronic document, to "authorise" the documents for use...

re: When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

Richard Tubb — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 10:24:56 GMT

Steve - Interesting that you still read the printed version of "Computing" as opposed to having the Digital on-line PDF Version arrived in your inbox too. ;-)

re: When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

John A Thomson — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:01:46 GMT

That's all good and well, but I've got proof that even Bill Gates is looking to book and pen technology!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKtGRPYPqXE

In simple economic terms, it could be pretty expensive for most organisations to implement a digital signature infrastructure that would meet the standards of the law. Why go to all that complexity when it takes seconds to write something in pen and ink that will stand up in a court of law! Most people also like to have something in paper when it is a legally binded contract.

re: When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

Kevster — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 23:59:43 GMT

Steve

As regards 'Legacy' :) pen and paper and the pipedream of a truely paperless office, I remember what a very wise old guy told me..... "A paperless office is like a paperless toilet"

I am sure still in our lifetime it will not be phased out

re: When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

Steve Lamb — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:42:48 GMT

Richard> Very observant of you. It's not my copy - I work at a hot desk - the copy of Computing was left behind by whomever sat there before me

re: When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

Steve Lamb — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:45:15 GMT

You are all absolutely right of course - I agree that it's unlikely pen & paper will ever be entirely phased out. HOWEVER I work for a leading tech firm and would expect that we could get this right!

re: When will we stop using pen and paper? The lunacy of Legacy Writing Implements!

Steve Lamb — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 11:48:15 GMT

John> I enjoyed watching the Utube video you linked to - thanks

Reminds me of the story about NASA spending millions of $ on developing a ball point pen that would work in zero gravity & the Soviets using a pencil instead!