A Post Filetype World

Imagine the AI machines have come and the apocalypse is here. Maybe it’s in 10 years or 50 years or maybe it’s never. In this world, do you imagine that PDFs still exist? What does our office look like? How do we share information?

Do you even PostScript bro? I’ll be Indiana Jones here and say “That belongs in a MUSEUM!” and crack my whip. 

If we as a species don’t improve how document data is stored in the next 5-10 years, we are doing something wrong with enterprise technology. I’ll pack up my bags and call it a day. Maybe I’ll finally live my life as a digital nomad on a beach somewhere doing solid work for some far off corporate gig!

Imagine a world where sharing, editing, and accessing documents feels like magic. No more wrestling with grumpy file formats or waiting for prehistoric software to catch up. In this future, the PDF is a digital relic, but what replaces it?

Welcome to a playground of truly interoperable documents, where creativity, collaboration, and connectivity reign supreme. Where documents are a data layer, a presentation layer and an archive layer, just like how we build SaaS today.

The Downfall of PDFs

Let’s give credit where it’s due: PDFs had their moment. For years, they were the trusty steed of document sharing—consistent, reliable, and a little boring. But over time, their cracks began to show:

1. Archive Nature: As an archival format, PDFs are inherently static under the hood, making them challenging to edit or adapt without specialized software
2. Accessibility Barriers: Their fixed layouts often fail to meet modern accessibility standards, creating barriers for users with disabilities
3. Interoperability Issues: PDF is not text. It’s a visual/vector format, because it was built for *publishing* and not the web, like HTML or Markdown, which means it’s not data
4. Data Extraction Challenges: Extracting structured data from PDFs is a notoriously cumbersome task, requiring advanced tools and expertise and even then it’s error prone

Enter Interoperable Documents

Cue the triumphant music! In this glorious future, documents are no longer rigid and finicky. Instead, they’re full aware, sentient even, like AI. They know their data and presentation structure. They understand their permissions and security for PII/PHI.

Here’s a taste of what’s possible:

1. Universal Compatibility: Forget file conversions. These documents are built on open standards and can hop from one platform to another without breaking a sweat
2. Live and Editable Content: Static files are last century. Imagine a document that’s alive—collaboration happens in real-time, edits appear instantly, and everyone stays on the same page (literally!). And if you don’t want legal mucking around in accounting’s section, permissions enable you to gate editing too
3. Supercharged Accessibility: Documents that actually care about accessibility? Yes, please. Text-to-speech, adaptive layouts, and even translation—it’s all built-in
4. Data-Centric Awesomeness: These aren’t just documents; they’re data powerhouses. Pull insights, crunch numbers, or plug them into other systems without breaking a sweat
5. Cybersecurity: PII/PHI and other sensitive data are masked or redacted depending on who is reading the document

Experience the Future Today with UnicornForms

• Turbocharged Productivity: No more wasting hours on file issues. Just pure, data, workflow automations, analytics and intelligence
• Planet-Friendly Tech: Fewer redundant formats mean less digital clutter, simpler algorithms that don’t require nuclear power and a smaller carbon footprint.
• Mind-Blowing Workflows: Adaptive, modular documents open doors to things we’ve never imagined—hyper-personalized reports, AI-assisted content, and more.

Conclusion

The fall of the PDF isn’t a tragedy; it’s a celebration. This new era of interoperable documents is about breaking free from the past and embracing a world where sharing, editing, and accessing information is intuitive, inclusive, and downright delightful. So, here’s to the future—a world where your documents work as hard as you do and where innovation has no limits.

Join us and try UnicornForms today!

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