50 Everyday Tasks Technology has Rendered Obsolete

A 2011 poll sought to find out the top things that people do not do anymore due to the steady march of technology. The study surveyed 3,000 adults and examined the impact of technology on human life over the last 30 years.

Getting photographs printed, public telephones and recording television onto physical media all emerged as activities that are dying out due to digital advancements. Visiting a travel agent also came high on the list, as better deals can be found and compared online in five minutes.

Death of Directory Enquiries

Most people choose to store their photos on hard drives or in cloud services these days. Smartphones have seen the death of directory enquiries and public phones. Paying bills can now be done automatically or with the touch of a button, as can most banking services. Text messaging and email has put the handwritten letter to the sword as well as the need to own a phone book.

Catch-up television and services such as Sky+ have removed the need to own VHS tapes or DVD recorders. The internet has eliminated a number of one essential book from the average home. Books such as encyclopaedias, dictionaries and phone books.

Cessation of Classified

EBay, Gumtree and their ilk have driven a nail into the coffin of the traditional car boot sale or classified ads. Tablets and smartphones have removed the need for a daily newspaper. Whilst some people may still enjoy the feel of a physical newspaper, there is no way that printed media can keep up with the way in which digital news is constantly updated.

Also more or less gone the way of the dodo, is the need to get out maps to plan a car journey. Also gone is the need to have a navigator with loads of cumbersome maps unfolded in the car, trying to direct you around a strange location.

Nowadays you just pop the postcode of where you want to be into your TomTom or Garmin (other satellite navigation systems are available), or into Google Maps (other smartphone based navigation software is available, although we would not recommend using them) on your smartphone, and you will be directed straight to where you need to be.

The Full List:

Ring the cinema to find out times
Going into the travel agents to research a holiday
Record things using VHS
Dial directory enquiries
Use public telephones
Book tickets for events over the phone
Print photos
Put a classified ad in the shop window
Ring the speaking clock
Carry portable CD players
Write handwritten letters
Buy disposable cameras
Take plenty of change for pay phones
Make mix tapes
Pay bills at the post office
Use an address book
Check a map before or during car journey
Reverse charges in payphones
Go into the bank or building society to conduct your business
Buy TV listings
Own an encyclopaedia
Queue to get car tax in Post Office
Develop and send off for photographs
Read a hard copy of the Yellow Pages
Look up something in dictionary
Remember phone numbers/ Have a phone book
Watch videos
Have pen friends
Use a telephone directory
Use pagers
Fax things
Buy CD’s/ Have a CD collection
Pay by cheque
Make photo albums
Watch programmes at the time they are shown
Dial 1471 when you get home
Warm milk or other hot drinks on stove
Try on lots of pairs of shoes on high street
Hand wash clothes
Advertise in trading papers
Send love letters
Hand-write essays / school work
Buy flowers from a florist
Work out how to spell something yourself
Keep a personal diary
Send post cards
Buy newspapers
Hang washing out in winter
Keep printed bills or bank statements
Visit car boot sales


So, you have the results of the poll on what the public thinks are the top things that we do not do anymore due to digital technology. But, maybe you have thought of something that was not included? Is there something that you remember doing that has fallen by the wayside as technology has advanced? Please let us know in the comments below.

Also, it is worth noting that this survey was carried out in 2011. Whilst four years old can certainly still be considered recent in the field of research, it is also true that technology advances at a sometimes alarming rate. So, maybe things have changed in the four years since this question was fist asked. Please also let us know in the comments if a recent technological development has led to you abandoning an old habit, in favour of a more streamlined method.

NOTE CREDIT: http://www.markitwrite.com/50-everyday-tasks-technology-has-rendered-obsolete/