I’m 65 and I’ve seen technology come a long way, and so many products being replaced by quicker, simpler alternatives. And yet every now and then I am pleasantly surprised to discover people still making use of something completely outdated. Whether paper maps or landline phones, some things just don’t feel like they fit anymore, given everything we have available online. Here are 11 things I just can’t believe people still use today.
Featured Image Credit: RostyslavOleksin /Depositphotos.com.
Checkbooks
Now with online banking and mobile payments, we’d be shocked at how many people still have a checkbook in their pockets. Writing a check seems like it’s a lot slower than tapping a card or paying through an app. Although some still find check-writing a familiar experience, the majority of payments are now instantaneous, with no paper or pen.
Fax Machines
Fax machines were essential for the office decades ago, but email and document-sharing applications make them seem so last century. Faxing a document takes more time and the copy may not be as crisp as a digital version. It’s shocking that some businesses, especially medical ones, still use faxing rather than email or secure online platforms.
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Rolodexes
Rolodex was once your standard method of contact list-making, with little cards that arranged alphabetically. Now, thanks to smartphones that can hold thousands of contacts and provide simple search options, a physical Rolodex on a desk is unnecessary. But some still hold on to their Rolodex as a nostalgic means of keeping track of contacts.
Alarm Clocks
Old-fashioned dial alarms or digital alarm clocks are mostly overtaken by smartphones that can activate several alarms and even program wake-up music. But you wouldn’t believe how many people still have a traditional alarm clock on their bedside table, despite it being so bulky and serving only one purpose.
Landline Phones
Since cell phones replaced landlines, there is now less of a need for landlines. But some still use them. It can feel like an unnecessary cost, given the way mobile phones have become so common, portable & useful. Being able to call a landline could be comforting for some, though somewhat strange in an age when cell phones do more.
Paper Maps
The paper map was once the norm when driving – now GPS and smartphones provide you with directions within seconds. The old ways of opening up a big paper map to navigate your way now feel clumsy. Some use maps for nostalgic reasons, but everyone is surprised when someone takes out a paper map and doesn’t look at their phone.
CDs and DVDs
With streaming services making it so convenient to watch movies and listen to music, CDs and DVDs are becoming scarce. Nobody even has players for them anymore. Some still collect their classics. But most are surprised to see anyone using discs in an age where virtually everything is on the internet.
Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias once occupied a whole shelf in most households and offered everything from history to science. Now that the internet delivers information in real time, owning a pair of encyclopedias seems like a memory from an earlier age. We rarely ever see them in use today – but there are still people who keep them as a reminder of simpler times.
Calculators
There are simple calculators out there, although smartphones can perform sophisticated calculations and come with a whole host of extra features. It seems strange to see someone taking out a standalone calculator when he/she can use a phone instead.
Film Cameras
With digital cameras and mobile phones snapping pictures in seconds, film cameras are usually left to amateur photographers. Making film costs time and money and you don’t get to see the pictures immediately. While film photography is highly artistic, it’s strange to see people using film cameras for everyday shots.
Phone Books
The phone book – which was once indispensable for locating telephone numbers – no longer makes sense. Almost everyone searches for telephone numbers online or on their smartphones. The act of flipping through pages to look up a single number is nothing short of painful.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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