A Long-Range Techno-Economic Forecasting Procedure Applied to Printing and Its Substitutes.

Long-range (i.e. 5-20 year economic forecasts of demand for printing need to consider major future developments in the technology of printing and of its present or potential communications competitors. For various reasons most such consideration has been imprecise, narrowly limited, or both, regarding the dates, markets and magnitudes of future technological impacts. A more systematic, precise procedure employing technological and economic forecasting techniques in combination is outlined. Preliminary results are described. Further improvements to achieve greater precision are discussed.