Our society rests on a foundation made of paper. It is the vast quantity of documentation created at every level of government that maintain property rights, enforce justice, and enable commerce. In other words, our society depends on the ability of government agencies to gain access to the right document at the right time. Without efficient access, the information recorded in those documents is worthless. This fact accounts for the widespread interest today in government initiatives, and for the widespread adoption of digital imaging in government. Once a document has been scanned and indexed to the right search criteria, access ceases to be an issue. It can be accessed by users through a wide variety of information systems, or can be made available on the World Wide Web either to specific groups or to the public at large. Just as important, it gains a new level of survivability, because digital images can be securely stored at diverse locations in order ensure continuity in the event of a disaster. |
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