Todd Anderson

Paper may come in many shapes and sizes, but it’s plain to see that it has revolutionized our world. Paper, in respect to modern innovations, is extremely simple and easy to produce in mass quantities. Paper originates as wood and other plant matter, but is transformed into an extremely “flexible” and recyclable wonder. Additionally, paper makes up a majority of products that we use in everyday life. Since paper is so versatile and strong, we use it in hygienic, packaging, and construction products. Finally, paper has been, and still is, “the” medium by which almost all civilizations communicate. Only few societies are still unable to experience the benefits of paper and the impact it has on the transfer of information. Paper, for the last three millennia, has been the best medium for information transfer, but electronics may be the one to win the race in the coming decades.

Paper refers to a thin sheet of formed plant matter that is used as a primary means of communication. The name “paper”, is derived from the Egyptian word “papyrus”, which is the plant the Egyptians used to make the first form of paper. Egyptians would slice the papyrus into narrow strands and pound them into thin sheets. Almost all types of paper are made from plant fibers that have been formed into flat sheets and dried. Modern paper is made from wood in large automated mills and is dyed pure white for an ideal finished product. Because this process is simple and cheap, paper is produced in massive quantities; therefore inexpensive to the average consumer. Paper is also recyclable which means that fewer resources are being used to produce it. While being economically ideal and environmentally friendly, paper is used in a variety of products we use everyday. Discover Education | Paper Industry Video

In a single day, we use many products that are made using paper that would not exist without it. Paper is cheap and biodegradable which makes it ideal for hygienic products that are disposed of once used. Paper towels and Kleenex are both made from forms of paper and help to keep our society bacteria free. Toilet paper, one of modern societies’ necessities, is used to keep our bodies clean to prevent disease and infection. Products and goods are packaged to prevent damage or contact with bacteria, and paper is used as a primary packaging method. If you send a letter or a present to a friend, you either put it in an envelope or a box to protect it from damage along the journey. The majority of food products are also put in cardboard boxes to protect the contents from bacteria and damage. Protecting our belongings and bodies from environmental harm is nothing compared to the fact that paper revolutionized how we think entirely.

Prior to the creation of paper, information was transferred orally or written on heavy stone tablets. Because paper is light weight, flexible, and easy to make, it became the ideal medium to save information on. It became easy to store large quantities of information and records in a small area. Since it is easy to produce, it became common in societies enabling average civilians to contribute art, journals, poems, and novels to the web of communication. With the invention of the printing press, the demand for paper became more than ever in history. Books that were duplicated originally by hand could now be duplicated in fractions of the time, all on paper. With more books in circulation, it became possible for an average person to obtain the education and knowledge that was once reserved for the high-class nobles. Paper, an ancient invention, has innovated the way we live our modern lives, but will its innovation may not remain unmatched for long.

With the invention of computers and the internet, it was predicted that our need for paper would diminish, but the opposite has occurred. The world now consumes more paper than ever before. With modern technology, information is sent from person to person instantly and to take this information with us when needed, we print it to make a physical copy. To cut back on paper consumption, a revolutionary idea has been proposed and is the process of becoming a reality. A paper-thin display, 0.01 inches thick, with the lightness and flexibility of real paper has been created by several companies, which are currently expanding on the technology. With this technology, a person could carry a piece of “digital paper” that would connect them to the Internet and to the entire world. Printers, pencils, and pens would become obsolete in an instant and information would spread to the masses faster than it already is. Paper created a timeless medium, whether past, present, or future, through which information can be stored, shared, and duplicated for all people of the world.

YouTube Video of Thin Display