Being a long term avid computer user since the early 1970s well versed in PDF digital forms technology beginning in 1993 when Adobe Acrobat first debuted, I have always been interested in technology designed and intended to enhance efficiency and improve productivity for personal and business use especially in regard to integrating computer software that has evolved over the past 20-30 years in an effort to achieve results in record time without affecting and often exceeding the quality of results obtained. At the same time, I am often frustrated and taken aback by the preponderance of basic and mediocre interactive PDF forms provided online by amateurs using Adobe Acrobat Pro or some other PDF forms creator (subject matter better left for another article). Likewise, I am also taken aback by dated/dinosaur technology, i.e. USPS snail mail, fax machines, etc., that many who work in the public and private business sectors continue to use and rely on in their daily regimen given much better technology that has been available for well over the past 20 years. Case in point: Back in the late 80s or early 90s while visiting a local real estate office, I couldn't help but notice the incoming influx of fax machine transmissions that never seemed to end. I also noticed that the majority of incoming fax transmissions were difficult if not virtually impossible to read due to a combination of illegible handwritten documents and general overall poor quality of copies received. This being the case, I had made up my mind then and there I would never purchase and rely on a fax machine for personal or business use in which event I was able to eventually find a suitable software application titled 'WinFax Pro' that proved to be more than adequate and a marked improvement over a fax machine. Needless to say, once Adobe Acrobat PDF forms arrived on the seen along with other digital forms of technology similar to MS Word and Open Office Writer that could be sent in an email file attachment without having to worry about the quality of documents transmitted, I never looked back.

Upon further reflection as to why dated/dinosaur technology continues to flourish in a society where much better technology is available should come as no surprise given the continued use and reliance on unreliable and inept USPS snail mail along with facsimile machines that should have been pulled off the market ages ago yet continue to be manufactured and sold today to satisfy demand for an antiquated device that should have been relegated to the nearest dump site 20 plus years ago. Unfortunately, telling someone there exists a better and improved method to complete a task than that presently used by many is analogous to attempting to change one's misguided belief in leading a horse to water to drink. While the reasons appear to be overwhelming, a partial list includes but is not limited to: complacency, lack of incentive, ignorance or lack of knowledge, obstinate to change, afraid of change, lack of computer skills, commonly used by others in one's profession or industry, etc. To begin, complacency breeds lack of incentive and vice versa meaning those who are complacent normally lack incentive in which event I can almost assure you 99.99% of the time those who are complacent and lack incentive are not going to take the bull by the horns to initiate change in an effort to improve and make things better in the workplace. As for those that remain obstinate to or afraid of change, the former are more than likely altogether satisfied, set in their ways, and confident in what they already do to perform the work required of them in which event they often have little if any desire to change from what they've grown accustomed to despite what anyone else has to say unless they run the risk of losing their job. In contrast, those who are afraid of change are often hesitant to spend the time required to learn a new way to perform a specific task to which they've grown accustomed to doing a certain way for fear of doing something different along with having reservations as to whether or not they will be able to learn and do what's necessary of them. As for ignorance and lack of knowledge, as long as an individual remains comfortable and has no reason to further his technical knowledge or education to improve his/her status quo, without having the technical know-how to effect change for the better, there can be none. Last but not least, it has come to my attention over the years that it remains very difficult to get people to change their ways and try something new especially when many in their line of work with whom they transact business continue to use the same methods and technology such as fax machines. Moreover, there is really no good reason to continue using old technology like fax machines that have run their course given computer software and technology available today. However, as long as a significant number of people continue to remain steadfast using a fax machine along with other forms of dated technology, God forbid, fax machines may be with us for another 50 years.