I created this timeline in 2016 to study the different mediums of information over time. At that point in time we thought that digital was the sole future and we were debating over the power of paper. Paper does indeed have some power of longevity, however we are in peril with our deforestation problem and climate crisis now.
Simplicity prevails in the evolution of information storage.
Clay tablets survived for 5000 years and paper has been around for nearly 2000 years. Books as a format of accessing and storing information will continue to persevere as a stable and predictable format. There is no one perfect medium nor perfect format, as all have their endangered weaknesses. Sustainable and ecologically responsible sources will preserve our legacy.
Lori Snyder 2023