During a recent visit to my daughter's college, I listened to a speech by the school's vice president of technology. While discussing the varied technological benefits the school offers, she said something that resonated with -- and even shocked -- me: "The iPad will change the world."

This seemed to be an obvious overstatement. However, then I reflected on the history of technology and the printed word. A sampling:

• 1900 B.C. - The earliest known writing system, cuneiform script, is created.
• 1700 A.D. - Erasable slates are developed.
• 1888 A.D. - A paper mill employee creates the first legal pad (unsure as to whether this is actually an advance).
• 1993 A.D. - The Apple Message Pad, which can almost recognize handwriting, arrives.
• 2010 A.D. - The iPad is here.

Having given it some thought and recognizing that while the iPad won't end war or resolve global warming, it very well may fundamentally change the way we receive, share, and safeguard information.

Let's face it: Libraries are all but obsolete. When is the last time you told your kid to check the encyclopedia? Do you even go to the video store anymore? Do you read the daily paper? Ok, I do read the paper.