Paper and pencil was long ago the original means of documentation, the advent of electronics means in the late 1960s by IBM (International Business Machine) generated arguments on the economic implications to the manufacturers of paper and pencil. Despite the invention of easy documentation and swift processing to finishing hard copy, it is of note worthy that the importance of pencil and paper usage in documenting data is still of importance in the present world.
Though some may insist that recording data with word processor is superior to pencil and paper, I still question the persistent flying around of paper and pencil in the country and even in nations abroad– in terms of existence far back in the beginning, paper and pencil has been in use and its place so far has not been occupied with the advent of word processor. This simply emphasizes that the word of documentation can hardly do without the ancient material. Even the so called word processor would need manuscript collection before the final input to electronic word processor software in computer system. In this regard, word processor is somehow dependant on paper and pencil instructions from the author.
The appreciation of the use of word processor on the other hand must be pronounced. Excellence in documentation in the recent world requires direct slotting of data into computer system right away without holding paper and pencil. I still argue that the time consumed in multiple exercise of thinking, typing and editing equate the time spend on word processor to manual writing.
May be they are right anyway, since the paper and pencil application would still require the touch of electronic word processing before final produce into circulating copies. One wonders how long it will take to produce handy copy of speech presentation to thousand of audience in a conference.
Weighing the two sides, my unbiased view would agree with the category of intellectuals that believe in the superiority of word processor to paper and pencil.
Reference
- The New York Times, September 12, 1972