Technology versus sticky notes

Dr Spencer Silver, an American chemist at 3M Company developed a 'low-tack' of a reusable, pressure sensitive adhesive. Silver promoted his invention through formal and informal means and it was used for multiple purposes until one of his colleagues, Arthur Fry who came across it at one of Spencer’s seminars came up with the idea of using the adhesive to anchor his bookmark in his hymnbook. Art Fry made use of the “permitted bootlegging” policy at 3M to develop the idea in to a product.

The initial prototype of the product named as "Press 'n Peel", which hit the stores in 1977 but was a huge failure.  However 3M Company came back with "Post-It Notes" a year later, which they gave out free samples to residents of Boise, Idaho, and 95 percent of the people who tried them said that they would buy the product.

On April 6, 1980, the yellow colored product debuted in US stores. The yellow color of the “Post-It Notes” was chosen by coincidence as the "Post-It” team had initially used scrap yellow paper from the neighboring laboratory. However, today Sticky Notes are available in multiple colors, shapes and designs.

Ever since its invention, the product more commonly known among us as “Sticky Notes” had been making our lives a lot easier. Sticky notes are used for a variety of purposes including writing down a to-do list, jot down a phone number, or stick reminders for events somewhere in sight. Today, we have more improved sticky notes to help us stick it to almost anywhere from the refrigerator door to the partitions of our office cubicle.

With the advancement of technology, the usage of paper has been reduced on a huge scale globally. Cutbacks on paper have helped companies save money and also organize their work. However, the usage of Sticky Notes is still common among the working class and students alike. Software developers have tried to come up with various applications and devices to compete with the Sticky Notes. Most smart phones, tablets and other handheld devices are equipped with organizers and other applications in an attempt to replace Sticky Notes.

Till today, the popularity of Sticky Notes has not declined even with the availability of such applications on our handheld mobile devices. It could be that the applications are still not user friendly enough for us to completely give up sticky notes. Some of the disadvantages of technology are that we cannot simply rely on it and even with the ‘sticky’ applications; we simply cannot stick the device on anywhere clearly in our sight.
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