We accumulate information like nothing else. Some things will never be used again, but others could be useful – if only they could be found and accessed. Scanning and digitizing them makes them far more accessible.

Target:

• Photos by scanning and organizing them into virtual albums. These can be shared with family members and friends who will also treasure them.
• Recipes can also be scanned and organized. Some software
  Articles, tips and lists are great candidates for scanning, too; you can set them aside to read later on your mobile phone, tablet or computer.
• VHS tapes, slides, audio cassettes and other outmoded formats should be converted to computer files or some other format that you can use now.
• Drafts, memos, old routine email and other by-products of work or correspondence should be discarded once a project is finished to make it easier for you to find the things you really need.
  

The Smart Slant:
Digitizing your photo collection may help you reconnect with people who have played important roles in your life. Send that digitized photo with a note to an old friend or reminisce with aging parents through a slide show of their lives.