Major Technological Breakthrough by Tristan Gylberd

I found this in the recent edition of Arx Axiom. It was originally published December 1998 in the Stirling Bridge newsletter.
"There is nothing new under the sun." Ecclesiastes 1:9

At the recent technology show in Las Vegas, a protocol for a new technological breakthrough was announced. The new protocol, Bio-Optic Organized Knowledge device, will be trade named BOOK. This new BOOK protocol is a revolutionary technological marvel-with no wires, no electric circuits, no batteries, nothing to be connected, and nothing to be switched on. It's so easy to use, even a child can operate it after only a short training session. Compact and portable, it can be used practically anywhere-even sitting in an armchair by the fire-yet it is powerful enough, and contains enough data storage space to potentially hold as much information as a CD-ROM disc.
Here is how it works. BOOK is constructed of sequentially numbered sheets of fully recyclable paper, each capable of holding thousands of bits of information. The pages are locked together with a custom-fit device called a binder which keeps the sheets in their correct sequence. Opaque Paper Technology (OPT) allows manufacturers to use both sides of the sheet, doubling the information density and cutting costs. Experts are divided on the prospects for further increases in information density; for now, BOOKS with more information simply use more pages. Each sheet is scanned optically, registering information directly into your brain. A flick of the finger takes you to the next sheet. BOOK may be taken up at any time and used merely by opening it. BOOK never crashes or requires rebooting, though like other display devices it can become unstable if dropped overboard. The "browse" feature allows you to move instantly to any sheet, and move forward or backward as you wish. Many come with the "index" feature, which enables users to pinpoint the exact location of any selected information for instant retrieval.
Marvel of marvels, it has also been determined, following a series of laboratory tests in the most adverse conditions, the new protocol is altogether Y2K compliant. Indeed, it seems to be entirely unaffected by the seemingly omnipresent Millennium Bug-thus, guaranteeing the survival of the technology regardless of what the next year brings us in the way of basic infrastructure disruptions.
Optional BOOKmark accessories allows users to open BOOK to the exact place they left it in a previous session-even if the BOOK has been closed. BOOKmarks fit universal design standards; thus, a single BOOKmark can be used in BOOKS by various manufacturers. Conversely, numerous BOOK markers can be used in a single BOOK if users want to store numerous views at once. The number is limited only by the number of pages in the BOOK. Users may also wish to make personal notes next to BOOK text entries with yet any one of another series of optional accessories-transferable programming tools: the Portable Erasable Nip Cryptic Intercommunication Language Stylus, known by the trade name, PENCILS. Portable, durable, and affordable, BOOK is already being hailed as a precursor of a new wave of educational and entertainment products. Also, BOOK's appeal seems so certain that thousands of content creators have committed to the platform and investors are reportedly flocking in. Look for a flood of new titles soon.