Perhaps a few parameters might help our discussion? For example, if you are traveling on a long journey, you might prefer a paper book so you can leisurely flick through the pages or become engrossed in a novel. However, maybe the document is more important than a holiday novel, perhaps it is a legal document, even a document that you have not read before, these are all factors that could lean you towards having a paper version.
On the other hand, perhaps you prefer a spontaneous search on the World Wide Web to satisfy your curiosity, but let us keep the discussion on consumption of written or infographic data for now, and not about searching for information. The screen on our mobile device or computer can adjust type size and lighting along with more individual facets that can make the digital experience personally appealing, as well as the ability to instantaneously share with others.
What about personal intellectual retention of written or infographic data? There are many academic perspectives on this with quite a few revealing that personal intellectual retention is better when reading from paper. However, there is research that indicate experience and individual maturity of the person can influence our preferential choice for digital or paper.
I could go on about the search debate, but I believe the case for digital has been won, with powerful search engines providing us with whatever information we want in seconds, in comparison to visiting a library to undergo the long search approach. Also, the benefits of audio reading is a massive plus for digital as is copy and paste.
However, most of the above options can be accounted for under the heading of personal preference, but the key test for consuming written or infographic data, digitally or on paper, must be on environmental grounds. The cost of printing, transporting, and disposal of the written material (even if recycled) must lead us to conclude that, where possible, we should select digital where we have a choice, in particular for large multi-page paper material.
Nevertheless, it remains a personal choice. Is it digital or paper for you? Do not print this article unless you really must.