Finland to Open & Scan Mail in Pilot Program

[tomm2thumbs]

Could this get any more interesting?
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2010-04/finland-open-scan-and-electronically-send-snail-mail

In an effort to increase efficiency, cut carbon emissions, and reduce costs, Finland has begun a pilot program wherein snail-mail letters are converted into PDFs and made viewable online by their addressees, in advance or in lieu of physical delivery.

Itella, the state-owned company that operates Finland's postal service, has vowed that employees will not read the letters, that all sorting and opening will occur in specially secured facilities, and that employees will sign strict confidentiality agreements.

Itella stresses this program is only an experiment designed to discover what types of snail-mail the Finnish people feel comfortable receiving in this fashion. However, despite the small size, experimental nature, and high security of the program, some Finish citizens have already begun drawing comparisons between Itella and Communist-regime security services.


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at this point it is for those that agree to this processing of their mail

[Cirque du So-What]

1. I envisioned something similar a few years back

I wondered whether people could get over their concerns over privacy to make this work. Also, I wondered about scanning mail, actually printing it out near its destination & then delivering it. Even though energy would be expended in delivery, most of the letter's journey would be over the internet instead of filling a truck or airplane.

[LiberalFighter]

2. I would think it would be better to stay with email as the delivery method.

Are they going to do this with birthday, sympathy, and other cards? Some of which will have money enclosed. They going to PDF the money too?

Will they do this with legal documents? Which will then not be valid if they have special coloring, stamps, etc.

[FarCenter]

3. Most of the mail volume is junk mail anyway

How does this work for magazines, catalogs, brochures, various direct mail advertizing pieces, etc.