The delta between memory and assisted memory is getting smaller over time, though. My memory of every paper I ever wrote for school and for my first day job is pretty slim. Every word I've written since that is accessible with about ten seconds of reflection and Google. Much of the important stuff is accessible on my iPad, too. (The additional accessibility of it makes it easier to re-read, which keeps it in active memory, too.)

I'm in paperwork-filing mode right now for immigration. I've done it before, largely backed by paper notes. It is stressful, highly technical, and not my field. This time, I'm backed by Dropbox and my iPad. I have literally asked for a moment during discussions with clerks at town hall and then read sentences from the relevant Ministry of Justice regulations directly to them. ("I need a document proving that I have properly executed my duty to pay all forms of tax for last year, including that from $YOUR_OFFICE. Can you help me out with that? No? OK, let's see, you have a form, it is called a... one minute... Certification Of Tax Payment for City And Prefectural Taxes. I'd like to apply for that. It will cost me 250 yen, apparently. No ma'am, I believe it is quite likely you will find that form if you look. Yes ma'am, that is the one, thank you.")

Do I have an encyclopedic command of obscure regulations written by a foreign government in my third language? No. But the system of myself and my technological crutches strongly gives the appearance of that.

Edited to add: If it weren't obvious, I find this Really Freaking Useful, because it is saving me a couple thousand dollars on hiring a specialist whose chief professional responsibility is knowing that a) I need that document to complete the particular procedure I'm in and b) the quickest way to extract it from City Hall. Previously, the solution set was a) pay up, b) spend weeks researching the issue and playing ping-pong around four offices (and you're the ball), or c) buy plane tickets prior to being deported.