Hardcopy printouts

Manufacturing

There are multiple technologies required to make this work.

1. ability to make a medium (paper or other thin material)
2. typesetting or printing in a font
3. ink that will adhere and transfer the type to the medium

Social Impact

The ability to print things outside of a digital technology has been lost except to a very few. Digital technologies for communicating and documenting information is in use. However, using non-digital methods creates an ability to hide information from others. Sometimes this would be so only a single intended recipient of the information would have access, other times a limited number.
The use of digital storage and backup means that at some point all information is accessible, it being just a matter of time before anyone is able to view it. For highly encrypted, secret information, there will always be a "backdoor" or some other method of breaking the code, although it may be within a timeframe that is affordable.

Access & Availability

Once widely available, the ability to combine the processes of creating thin materials and inks to stain them has been overridden by other methods of communication, even on lower tech worlds where simple technology or verbal methods are used to carry the information through generations.

Complexity

While not technically complex, other methods of conveying the information are being used and the ability to create "written" information is no longer utilized within the Welcome to the Virgo Cluster. Some universities are trying to resurrect the processes in labs, but the availability of materials to support the manufacturing process has hampered their progress.

Discovery

The technology was used on lower tech worlds for many generations, but fell out of use when the ability to create the thin materials was used for other more important things.