The future of paper in the information society

The role of paper within the information society, in connection with the growth of electronic media, is discussed. The development of electronic media over the last 10–15 years is briefly reviewed, and trends and developments in paper use in relation to electronic media and other technological developments are explained. Comparisons are drawn between electronic media and paper for information transmission and human use, and the environmental pressures on the paper industry are discussed. The author concludes that paper will be augmented and complemented by electronic media, but not replaced.