ON ROLE OF INFORMATION IN PRODUCT AND COMPANY DEVELOPMENT

An ink jet recording system for performing recording by scanning a carriage having an ink jet recording cartridge, at least a part of which is removably mounted to said carriage, scans a carriage along a path that has a waiting position wherein access to the cartridge is inhibited and has a replacement position wherein the removably mounted part of the cartridge can be easily accessed, and in response to a cartridge replacement signal, moves the carriage to the replacement position. When the cartridge has been replaced, the carriage is returned to the waiting position.