European mobilisation: does it need a 1980s document model?

IA Writer on being Trapped in MS Office: Psychologically, Office is an obvious target because hardly anyone really enjoys working in it. Some may disagree, but in spite of its gigantic market share and iconic stand, it absorbs significant time and cognitive energy. Much of it is spent on formatting rather than thinking. And if, after all, you still somehow ‘like’ Microsoft products, ask yourself: Do I really want to work inside a 1980s document model indefinitely? And the solution is plain for the eye to see: If Europe wants to prepare for digital conflicts, it should not just swap vendors. It should leave obsolete work models behind. The smartest way to strengthen digital independence is not replacing bad software with wobbly clones. It is making work meaningful and enjoyable. Europe does not need a European Microsoft. Europe, and not just Europe, needs a post-Office model of writing, calculating, and presenting. The best way to weaken a dependency is to stop relying on outdated…