Text2Paper: how to waste electricity and paper : Hippyshopper

It seems like every email newsletter I get now has a reminder at the end to consider the planet before printing it, which makes me feel good about all the years I spent haranguing family and colleagues for wasting resources printing every dull four-line missive they received.

It never occurred to me that I might have to start telling people not to print text messages.

I read this morning that Microsoft have developed two new devices - one that converts messages written on post-it notes into text messages, and another to allow the receiver to print the message onto clear labels to be stuck onto calendars, "thus offering the user an entirely paper based messaging system."

Because what the world needs is a way of communicating that uses both more paper and more electricity.

According to Microsoft these gadgets bridge the generation gap between those who are comfortable with paper and those who can't be parted from their mobiles, but I bet setting up a machine to print texts would be more complicated than sending one in the first place.

If your gran can't figure out technology then pick up the phone and call her. Gadgets like this are solutions to problems that don't exist.