Would Michael Scott approve?

In our ever-advancing world of technology, we have advanced from the VHS to the DVD player to the Blue Ray Disc. We made it from vinyl records to the compact disc, and eventually to Ipods. With our environment and its preservation becoming a particularly disarming issue in recent years, President Barack Obama has put an emphasis on reducing carbon emissions and rewarding those who implement eco-friendly policies.
With the increase in technology, it is safe to ask whether our society would be better off paperless.

Pros: Environmentally friendly, incentives from other companies, save $.
Cons: Losing information, customers neglecting to view information or statements, too much technology.

I think that going paperless in the workplace is certainly a positive goal to strive for. It can save money, time, and energy, while also promoting the environment. Having a paperless system in the workplace will also bring about a universal organization from every employee. Instead of going through cabinets and files just to search for one piece of paper, the employee can simply click through their computer and find whatever it is that is needed.

In other places, I believe that a paperless environment is needed, however, not to the fullest extent. At home for instance, going completely paperless would not be a solid investment. As good as computers are, it is not wise to put your entire life into something that could break down and swallow that information whole. Keeping valued information on the computer would be a smart option, but knowing that a solid backup existed (in the form of paper) would be even smarter.

As technology advances, upcoming generations will be affected in the way they are being taught. We are already seeing a shift from written exercises to typed ones. At the college level, the shift is even more evident. Not enough actual writing, however, would be a bad precedent to start. Every child needs to know how to write, and how to write effectively. Children at the elementary level don't need to be exposed to the rapid advancement of technology. There is a fundamental way I believe that children should be taught in a certain manner. With the way society is shifting, there is no doubt that they will become experts at formatting Microsoft Excel by the time they're 12 anyways.

A global business that has seen a dramatic shift in recent years to a paperless environment is banking. Most people today receive their statements online, as well as through the mail. This is the best and most logical way for banks to keep operating. While online statements may be easy to access and convinient, they can also become neglected simply by people forgetting to check them on a regular basis. There is something reassuring about receiving that physical copy in the mail, knowing that your bank still remembers that you actually exist.

Mastering your computer (or just using it)

The computer is a scary piece of technology for more people than is realized. Kids today certainly have a better grasp on using computers than those who are over 40 years old, however, there are many fundamental features that tend to give people a hard time. Although we have been a part of the internet era for some time now, that does not mean that those with little or no computer experience can get acclimated with using their piece of technology.
The key is to simplify things when getting started. If I had to choose three things to tell a relative looking to become one with their computer I would mention these three things:

1. Internet and email

2. Microsoft programs

3. Programs and protection

I mention the internet and email because both are essential components to anyone's computers. The internet provides the user with an abundance of information right at your finger tips. The internet can also make things that may have once been hard, easy to figure out. I also mention email in connection with the internet. Email provides the best way for our society as a whole to communicate. Nearly everyone has it, and for those who have it, checking it multiple times per day is a regular occurrence.
Second, I allude to the use of Microsoft programs. Some computers may come equipped with Word and other programs, but if it does not, these programs are must-haves for everyone with a computer. Word allows the user to write anything that needs to be written, and is now equipped with features that really enhance whatever work is being done. Excel provides a way for people to organize lists and numbers, and PowerPoint and Paint are simply just great programs to have.
Lastly, the protection of your computer is a serious but necessary feature in using your computer. Today, there are viruses everywhere, and can be latched onto your computer if you're not careful. It is important to install a virus protection program (McAfee, Norton) onto your computer to protect from basic viruses. I also find that AdAware and Spybot help protect my computer to the fullest.

These three facets of using computers can be mastered fairly easy. There are, however, plenty of other features to a computer that may be anything but easy. While I mentioned that Microsoft Excel is a great feature to have, I still have a difficult time using it. If you're mind is geared toward math, using it should be an easy time. If you're like me and dislike numbers, using it can become a rather slow process.
The main difficulty in operating your computer, in my opinion, comes in keeping it organized and uncluttered. This can be achieved by keeping your folders tidy and knowing what programs are where, and also realizing the proper place programs should be located at.

The internet is an amazing place if you know how to use it and utilize it's tools. Need an address but don't have an address book? Look it up online. Want to know how to cook a duck burgundy? Find the recipe online. You can search for jobs, look for a significant other, and watch a sporting event all in the same place: the internet.