'Printing in the Age of the Web & Beyond'
Previewed by Xplor 2000 Attendees

New Research Study by The Electronic Document Systems Foundation
Highlighted by Industry Expert Frank Romano

 TORRANCE, Calif. U.S.A. (Nov. 17, 2000) - A major, upcoming research study by The Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF), called "Printing in the Age of the Web & Beyond," was previewed by more than 10,000 attendees at Xplor 2000 on Nov. 1. Industry expert and EDSF Vice Chair of Education, Frank Romano, EDPP, delivered a keynote based on the study, giving his audience a sneak-peek at how society will communicate in the 21st century.  Complimentary copies of the study's executive summary were also given to more than 5,000 attendees during the presentation.

Full-length copies of the research report, which tracks print from the recent past to its future in 2010, will be available from EDSF in early 2001. Complimentary copies of the executive summary are available now.

In his address, Romano made it clear to Xplor 2000 attendees - today’s document and IT professionals - that they won’t be the ones determining the future of the industry. "You and I will not be the ones to decide on the future of print. It will be our children and our children’s children. The brave new paperless world will belong to them," said Romano.

The real questions people should be asking about the future of print, said Romano, is which print products will grow, which ones will shrink, and which ones will die in the coming years.

Romano offered the following sample findings from the EDSF study: 

• Books will experience a slight print decline based on reference and academic materials moving to electronic media - either web-based or via e-books. The major trend with books will be book-on-demand printing, but overall e-book publishing will not pose a significant challenge until 2020.
• Traditional newspapers will see a significant drop in use, due to competition from the immediacy and comprehensiveness of web news sources. 
• Magazines and journals will see a decline in their print form and move toward publishing on the web.
• Business and consumer catalogs will see a drop in pages, but the number of catalog titles will increase.
• Directories will see a severe drop as their content moves to the web.
• Deeds, mortgages, and legal contracts will likely last in print forever.

To order a copy of EDSF’s “Printing in the Age of the Web & Beyond,” or for more information, contact the Foundation at +1-310-541-1481, or e-mail jcmowlds@aol.com.

About the Study
The Electronic Document Systems Foundation (EDSF) commissioned Frank Romano, EDPP, chair of the School of Printing Management & Sciences at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), and a team of graduate students from various universities, to research and identify the future of print and other media. From February to August 2000, Romano and his researchers interviewed over 2,000 consumers and professionals who were selected to represent stakeholders in print communication, including publishers, printing companies, communications organizations, consultants, institutions, research companies, professional associations, and information consumers. All predictions in the study were based on the effect of technology, population, demographic, societal, and cultural factors.

About EDSF
EDSF is the only foundation dedicated to enhancing the value and relevance of document communications worldwide. EDSF is a catalyst for education and research initiatives that bring the industry together to resolve document communication issues that impact society. EDSF helps the industry and public benefit from paper and electronic documents, which are continually being transformed by emerging technologies. Information: www.edsf.org, or contact Jeanne Mowlds, EDSF executive director, at (310) 541-1481 or jmowlds@edsf.org.