Paperless Society: The Prediction That Came Too Early, Yet Came True

 Paperless Society: The Prediction That Came Too Early, Yet Came True

By Azeez ADEOYE, Ph.D.
Wizard Librarian, adeoyeazeezphd@gmail.com

The discovery of paper was one of civilisation’s greatest achievements, an enduring innovation that seemed as if it would never fade away. For centuries, anyone who dared to predict the extinction of paper was regarded as a mad person, and rightly so. Many of us believed that such an individual must be truly insane. However, as we now stand in 2025, the once “insane” prediction of a paperless society appears to have been the wisest of all.

In the early 1970s, bold predictions emerged about the coming of a “paperless society.” The concept was first formally introduced by F. W. (Frederick Wilfrid) Lancaster, an information scientist and professor at the University of Illinois, who envisioned that advances in information technology would make paper largely obsolete by the year 2000. Decades later, however, this prediction seemed far from reality, as society remained deeply immersed in the use of paper. Paper mills continued to flourish, generating millions of dollars from the production of paper for educational, commercial and industrial purposes. Yet, now in 2025, Lancaster’s once-ambitious vision appears closer to fulfilment. The long-envisioned dream of a paperless society is gradually becoming a tangible reality, as many sectors including education, commerce, governance and healthcare now rely significantly less on paper for their daily operations.

The digital emergence of smartphones, QR codes, soft-copy document acceptance, and official communication through email has redefined how we handle information. Screenshots now serve as evidence, electronic books have replaced printed volumes, international passports are digitised, and mobile applications facilitate countless transactions. From online banking and biometric authentication to augmented and virtual reality tools, electronic money, and e-health systems: all point toward the reduced necessity of paper in everyday activities. The global promotion of a green society and deforestation control needs no further campaign; the objective is being achieved naturally through technological adoption.

Computer systems and their derivatives such as laptops, tablets, and e-notebooks: have been the true game changers. Many of the activities that once required paper are now digital, easily accessible, and reusable, thus reducing the demand for paper-based materials. Coupled with the power of multimedia, which combines sound, images, animation, and video to appeal to the senses of sight, hearing, and emotion, the superiority of digital formats has further accelerated the reality of a paperless world.

The modern model of “one man, one phone” has now evolved into “one man, three devices”: a smartphone, a tablet, and a smart-watch. Consequently, access to information that was once restricted to printed materials is now available in multiple, more efficient forms. The mobile phone is indeed the crux of the paperless revolution. Its portability, scalability, and multi-functionality make it the technological miracle of this century. Smartphones host countless applications and resources that make paperless interaction not just possible but convenient.

Electronic mail has replaced the traditional official letter as the formal means of communication. The use of email allows organisations to operate smartly, remain compliant with 21st-century standards, and adopt global best practices. Online workspaces such as Microsoft 360 and Google Workspace facilitate real-time communication and collaboration without a single sheet of paper, making the paperless office a reality. Banks were among the first adopters of this model, and for years they have operated seamlessly and successfully without paper-based transactions. Many global universities no longer require hard copies of reference letters or credentials; emails from official domains are considered entirely satisfactory. Indeed, email is one of the key drivers that has propelled society towards a paperless reality.

Mobile applications are the order of the day. Instead of stamps or physical signatures on paper documents, organisations, firms, and even small and medium enterprises now develop custom applications to transact, authenticate, and authorise services and payments. These apps have eliminated doubts about authenticity and established trust in digital operations. The development of secure mobile apps has demonstrated that paper is no longer necessary for validation, certification, or identity confirmation.

QR codes, a technological innovation closely related to augmented and virtual reality, have also played a vital role in achieving a paperless society. Instead of writing information such as passwords, website addresses, or personal details on paper, QR codes now allow instant access to vast amounts of data. With a simple scan, layers of information are revealed. QR codes are now common in airports, banks, libraries, religious centres, hospitals, and public institutions.

The financial sector, once dependent on paper currency and cheques, has completely transformed. Gone are the days when bags were filled with bundles of paper money. Many individuals now go about their daily lives without handling cash for months. From multi-billion-dollar deals to buying a bottle of water, transactions occur without paper money. Digital alternatives such as debit cards, online banking applications, biometric recognition, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin have revolutionised the financial system. Truly, the era of a paperless economy has arrived.

Education, once considered the most resistant sector to paperless transformation, has also embraced this change. Countless activities such as communication, assessments, grading, and record management, are now fully digital. From kindergarten to higher education, students and teachers rely on tablets and laptops instead of notebooks and printed textbooks. The introduction of electronic booknotes, e-textbooks, and digital libraries has significantly reduced the reliance on paper. Despite concerns about screen fatigue and the potential health effects of prolonged device use, the global education community has accepted digital learning as the new standard of excellence.

The use of paper is now de-emphasised across educational institutions, thanks to digital resources such as e-books, online classrooms, educational games, webinars, and learning apps. Some universities operate entirely online, including open universities and distance-learning institutions. Teaching, grading, record-keeping, and examinations are now conducted without any paper involvement. This shift is nothing short of miraculous. Teachers, lecturers, and scholars, once easily identified by pens and notebooks now go for weeks without using a pen for administrative, teaching, or personal purposes. And many scholars proudly conduct their daily activities for months without ever using a pen. This transformation marks the true height of a paperless society.

Another critical sector that seemed inseparable from paper is healthcare. The health sector, dealing with matters of life and death, once relied heavily on paper records for patient management. Today, electronic medical record systems have replaced bulky paper files. Physicians now issue prescriptions digitally, complete with secure signatures and patient verification. Electronic health systems enable quick access, easy updates, and secure sharing of records among authorised practitioners. The successful digitisation of such a sensitive and complex sector underscores the reality of a paperless world.

The prediction of a paperless society once sounded like a far-fetched dream: a mirage imagined by over-enthusiastic futurists. Martin (1970) reinforced this vision through his idea of the Wired Society, while Sellen and Harper (2002) later examined and deconstructed it in The Myth of the Paperless Office. Yet today, the notion has become an undeniable reality. The world has entered an era where ink and paper have lost their dominance, replaced by screens, clouds, and digital codes. This transformation raises an intriguing question: what other seemingly “insane” predictions of the past might soon come true?

Whatever the next great transformation may be, one lesson remains constant: no civilisation lasts forever in its original form. Technology, with all its discoveries and disruptions, is the defining feature of our time. Though we cannot accurately predict what will come after it, one thing is certain: change is the only constant phenomenon in human existence.

Azeez ADEOYE, Ph.D.

Wizard Librarian,

adeoyeazeezphd@gmail.com