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Printed books. We stare at screens too much already.
According tomarketing psychology speaker Johnson, it’s a common assumption that newer technologies are inherently better than older ones due to the allure of progress and innovation. “This belief often stems from the perception that technological advancements solve previous limitations and improve efficiency, convenience, and connectivity,” he explained to Bored Panda.However, he noted that consumers don’t always come to this idea on their own. “Marketing plays a huge role, painting the latest gadgets as must-haves for a modern lifestyle. Additionally, there’s a cultural bias towards the new and novel, equating modernity with superiority. However, this mindset overlooks the fact that some older inventions possess qualities that newer ones can’t replicate. They often offer simplicity, durability, and a tactile experience that digital counterparts lack.”
According tomarketing psychology speaker Johnson, it’s a common assumption that newer technologies are inherently better than older ones due to the allure of progress and innovation. “This belief often stems from the perception that technological advancements solve previous limitations and improve efficiency, convenience, and connectivity,” he explained to Bored Panda.
However, he noted that consumers don’t always come to this idea on their own. “Marketing plays a huge role, painting the latest gadgets as must-haves for a modern lifestyle. Additionally, there’s a cultural bias towards the new and novel, equating modernity with superiority. However, this mindset overlooks the fact that some older inventions possess qualities that newer ones can’t replicate. They often offer simplicity, durability, and a tactile experience that digital counterparts lack.”
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Knobs in cars. I rented a Ford Bronco last week, and while I would never buy one, I was amazed that it HAD KNOBS for EVERYTHING. No f-ing touch screen. So much safer and that tactile response was like a warm hug. Kudos to Ford for the knobs on this model!
Wall calendars. I can’t miss seeing it, it’s right there, I don’t have to open an app.
Because analog tools offer tactile and immersive experiences that their digital counterparts can’t easily replicate, there will always be a niche market for analog tech. “Jotting down notes with a fountain pen or navigating with a paper map engages our senses and memory in unique ways. Physical wall calendars provide a quick visual overview that many find more intuitive than a digital screen. Moreover, stick shifts give drivers a sense of control and connection with their vehicle that’s often lost in automatic transmissions,” Johnson shared.“Put simply—analog technology enables us to feel closer to the mechanisms of the work itself. And to the extent that certain consumers value this connection, there will always be a niche market of products for them.”
Because analog tools offer tactile and immersive experiences that their digital counterparts can’t easily replicate, there will always be a niche market for analog tech. “Jotting down notes with a fountain pen or navigating with a paper map engages our senses and memory in unique ways. Physical wall calendars provide a quick visual overview that many find more intuitive than a digital screen. Moreover, stick shifts give drivers a sense of control and connection with their vehicle that’s often lost in automatic transmissions,” Johnson shared.
“Put simply—analog technology enables us to feel closer to the mechanisms of the work itself. And to the extent that certain consumers value this connection, there will always be a niche market of products for them.”
Menus!
I love maps, we keep an actual map of the states we travel in all of our vehicles. Yes we use navigation apps, but you can’t always depend on them, so an actual map is great to have on hand. Plus one of my special talents is folding maps, how would anyone know about this talent if I didn’t have maps to fold.
Not ‘obsolete’, but out of fashion with younger generations - physical media: books, CDs, records, blurays etc. My house is overrun with these things, but it’s nice to actually own things I buy.
Meanwhile, Bored Panda got in touch with the author of the online thread,u/Tall_Mickey, to get their perspective on older and newer tech. They were kind enough to share their thoughts on the older innovations they prefer. One of these is the landline.
“Also, we live in an area prone to prolonged rainstorms/atmospheric rivers, natural disasters, forest fires, landslides, wind storms, you name it. Old-school landlines on copper wires also stay up even if the power is out and the phone lines are on the ground. Landlines get their power through the copper lines. We’ve lost power for a couple of days and the landline kept working. Cell towers are only starting to have that kind of backup.”
Stick shift. I drive twisty roads in my Miata and I like having control over my car. Paddle shifters are an ok alternative but I really like the feel of the actual shift.
Physical keys. The push start and keypad deadbolt of my daily driver and main house door are nice, but there is something about turning a mechanism with a key that I hope never fully goes away.
Cash.
In u/Tall_Mickey’s opinion, so-called ‘dumb’ appliances also have their upsides. “I was in the market for a washing machine and got much advice from engineers and an appliance repairman not to buy a smart appliance: the communications and security software is poorly maintained and easily hacked; support may also cease while the appliance still has good life in it. One washer boasted that if I gave it my financials, it could order detergent and other renewables FOR ME on Amazon when it calculated that my supplies were low. I DON’T THINK SO.“Bored Panda was also curious about what newer tech the author also finds useful. “Search engines are God’s gift to civilization. Especially if you grew up without them and had to go down to the library for everything, and they didn’t have what you wanted, or lost it, or it was checked out. And it completely bugs me that people who came of age in the last ten years or so don’t seem to use them,” u/Tall_Mickey said that despite the easy access to information, some individuals seem to avoid using it.“I moderate a Reddit sub for my city, and people would rather post random questions (When is the local XYZ festival happening) rather than doing an easy search. Social media has got them used to just asking, not getting. Even AI won’t solve this, because to get the right answer needs the right question, and even that takes research.”
In u/Tall_Mickey’s opinion, so-called ‘dumb’ appliances also have their upsides. “I was in the market for a washing machine and got much advice from engineers and an appliance repairman not to buy a smart appliance: the communications and security software is poorly maintained and easily hacked; support may also cease while the appliance still has good life in it. One washer boasted that if I gave it my financials, it could order detergent and other renewables FOR ME on Amazon when it calculated that my supplies were low. I DON’T THINK SO.”
Bored Panda was also curious about what newer tech the author also finds useful. “Search engines are God’s gift to civilization. Especially if you grew up without them and had to go down to the library for everything, and they didn’t have what you wanted, or lost it, or it was checked out. And it completely bugs me that people who came of age in the last ten years or so don’t seem to use them,” u/Tall_Mickey said that despite the easy access to information, some individuals seem to avoid using it.
“I moderate a Reddit sub for my city, and people would rather post random questions (When is the local XYZ festival happening) rather than doing an easy search. Social media has got them used to just asking, not getting. Even AI won’t solve this, because to get the right answer needs the right question, and even that takes research.”
Wooden spring-hinge clothes pins.they’re cheap and perfect for holding bags closed (chips, cookies, popcorn, cough drops, etc.).
I love pinball machines. So physical and visceral and more interesting and dynamic than a lot of computer games.
I still love the radio. Baseball on the radio while you’re outside in the yard or doing chores - heaven.
At the same time, the author opened up that the personal tech that they really want hasn’t been invented yet. “We live in the ‘fake future,’ a time when we have personal tools that look advanced but are very limited or are running in a server farm in North Virginia that also monitors all your habits and queries for sale to the highest bidder.“From u/Tall_Mickey’s perspective, newer technology might be easier or quicker to use, but that’s not the same as it being better or more powerful. “These technologies give help that is easy to get, but are very limited, sometimes intentionally slow, compared to old-school techniques.”
At the same time, the author opened up that the personal tech that they really want hasn’t been invented yet. “We live in the ‘fake future,’ a time when we have personal tools that look advanced but are very limited or are running in a server farm in North Virginia that also monitors all your habits and queries for sale to the highest bidder.”
From u/Tall_Mickey’s perspective, newer technology might be easier or quicker to use, but that’s not the same as it being better or more powerful. “These technologies give help that is easy to get, but are very limited, sometimes intentionally slow, compared to old-school techniques.”
Fountain pens. I just really like writing with them.
I still use a crockpot from the seventies. I heat water in it every now and then to test the temperature and it’s still perfect.
Day planners. Yeah, we can add events, appointments to our electronics, but I like the paper ones.
Though we’re fans of some analog inventions, in some cases, there’s a genuine reason to let go of older tech. Many of us would probably agree that saving our documents using cloud services is far easier and quicker than relying on CDs or floppy disks. (And you could keep a printed hard copy as a backup if the info is seriously important.) But that jump from analog to digital tech hasn’t been that easy in some cultures. Digital transformations can be slow and painful, especially in large bureaucracies.For example, it’s only this year, in 2024, that Japan has finally waved adieu to floppy disks.The BBC reportsthat until very recently, individuals were still asked to submit documents to the Japanese government on floppy disks, with over a thousand regulations to keep in mind. It took three years to complete the switch after Digital Minister Taro Kono declared war on floppy disks back in 2021.Floppy disks, which were created in the 1960s, started falling out of use in the 1990s with improvements in data storage. In 2011, Sony, the last manufacturer of these disks, finally stopped producing them.
Though we’re fans of some analog inventions, in some cases, there’s a genuine reason to let go of older tech. Many of us would probably agree that saving our documents using cloud services is far easier and quicker than relying on CDs or floppy disks. (And you could keep a printed hard copy as a backup if the info is seriously important.) But that jump from analog to digital tech hasn’t been that easy in some cultures. Digital transformations can be slow and painful, especially in large bureaucracies.
For example, it’s only this year, in 2024, that Japan has finally waved adieu to floppy disks.The BBC reportsthat until very recently, individuals were still asked to submit documents to the Japanese government on floppy disks, with over a thousand regulations to keep in mind. It took three years to complete the switch after Digital Minister Taro Kono declared war on floppy disks back in 2021.
Floppy disks, which were created in the 1960s, started falling out of use in the 1990s with improvements in data storage. In 2011, Sony, the last manufacturer of these disks, finally stopped producing them.
And when the power goes out for longer than a few hours, longer than a few days even - what will people so dependent on tech do then? I can read a map, read a compass, read a non-digital clock; use a watch, do basic math in my head, build a campfire; set up a tent, etc. A lot of lost and soon to be lost life skills.
CDs. No matter what , my music is MY music. Of course I put the music on my computer, phone and tablet but it’s easy to lose that stuff so I’ll always have backup. I can make my playlists on PowerAmp, listen to what I want, when I want and jam to my heart’s content with NO ads!I may get verbally stoned for this but I took advantage of Napster and ensuing iterations of file sharing until my ISP threatened me. I have always been a very poor girl and though many of my CDs are purchased, I would have nowhere near the collection I do without the wild west era of file sharing. I wouldn’t have access to some of the beautiful long versions of the best classic rock. I also was able to expand my tastes in music. Napster I miss you! But they cant take away all my burned music.
Pencil and paper.If I ever get lucky enough to teach math, that’s all I will allow to be used!No pressing a button to get the answer!
It’s one thing to be a techno-optimist, but too much hype and naivety aren’t going to be doing anybody any favors. It helps to be a realist as far as technology is concerned. For one, that means recognizing that progress is not linear. Novelty does not mean an automatic jump in quality. It’s simply not guaranteed.Just because a company comes out with a newer model of their top product doesn’t make the older one obsolete. The newer model might have some functions missing that the older ones have. Or the former might have analtered designthat just doesn’t sit right with some consumers. Or the new functions just aren’t worth the major price tag. If there’s a new smartphone coming out every year, it’s a huge financial burden to keep buying the latest model just to stay trendy.
It’s one thing to be a techno-optimist, but too much hype and naivety aren’t going to be doing anybody any favors. It helps to be a realist as far as technology is concerned. For one, that means recognizing that progress is not linear. Novelty does not mean an automatic jump in quality. It’s simply not guaranteed.
Just because a company comes out with a newer model of their top product doesn’t make the older one obsolete. The newer model might have some functions missing that the older ones have. Or the former might have analtered designthat just doesn’t sit right with some consumers. Or the new functions just aren’t worth the major price tag. If there’s a new smartphone coming out every year, it’s a huge financial burden to keep buying the latest model just to stay trendy.
Apparently printers are becoming obsolete. Mine isn’t going anywhere, though I don’t need it as much as I used to.
Postage stamps. There’s something really satisfying about affixing a stamp of Uranus to hate mail, and pretty stamps on nice mail. (Law office. We use a LOT of postage.).
A combo vhs and dvd player.
To be honest, some design changes just aren’t all that consumer-friendly. It makes you want to stick toolder tech, partly out of spite but mostly due to practicality. For instance, some of us aren’t fond of new smartphones not having a headphone jack. Sure, you’ll find plenty of people who love going wireless everywhere they can, from Bluetooth keyboards and mice to headphones. Fewer wires means less of a hassle, right?
Film cameras and automatic (mechanical) watches.
Printed bills. It just makes it easier to track. I get the bill in the mail when I get home, pay the bill, and throw it away when it’s paid. I know the bill is paid because it’d be in the trash if it wasn’t. And I’ve established the process of getting the mail, and paying the bill. This is largely credit-card bills, and utilities.
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I recently bought a “boom box” that plays CDs and cassettes. I was surprised that I found it. But very pleased, because I have a lot of music I like on both media.
A regular coffee maker, that you only have to Puggle on and off one switch. Lol. Even though I have a Keurig, because it was given to me, because some family members got a new one. Lol. I still kept my old coffee maker just in case.
**Calculators.**Yeah, I have a few calculator options on my smartphone. But it’s nice to have a dedicated hunk of solar-powered plastic/metal to do calculations on. No pop-up/pop-over messages or interruptions on the calculator’s screen.
Turn tables, even they are now slowly waning.
Double-edged safety razors - a much better shave than the currently multi-bladed monsters. They have experienced a resurgence with many smaller companies creating lovely artisan versions.
Face to face meetings.I like zoom…but sometimes being in the same room makes life much easier.
Glass glasses (Photogray tri-focals in my case). They’re optically clearer, don’t de-laminate, and don’t make me motion-sick from the changing diopter into the bi-focal.I’ve had (much) younger optometrists fight me on it. “I’ve been wearing glasses for 50 years. I know what works.“Getting harder to find, but I found a shop that carries ‘em.
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Sunday NY Times paper edition.
Paper applications for things.Went to apply for unemployment online and it was full of requirements of verification and asked a bunch of things and at the end of the 25 min I was told that I was outside the window due to online maintanance.Went to the office and filled out an application with like 5 questions… was in and out of there in 20 min and 10 min of that was just me playing video games on my phone waiting for my turn.Filed my tax extension online and had to fill out a ton of stuff and verification etc…Filled out the paper application for the extension- filled it out in 5 seconds since you only have to fill out 3 things on it, stuffed it in an envelope and mailed it. Done in seconds and extension went through.I could go on with more examples, but generally speaking, paper applications are a lot less hassle than online ones. Mainly because so many people use online applications now that there’s often almost no wait at the actual office.
Typewriters are not as cheap as you’d think because there’s an actual demand for them.Also, film photography has made a huge comeback. People are learning film techniques can actually make you a better photographer.
I keep an atlas book of NYC and Boston as I go that way often. My boy has always chuckled at them and said his GPS will do. The other day he realized the atlas shows work around routes! Unexpected construction in Boston the GPS didn’t know! Poor boy was ready to set the truck on fire and live in the woods. Dad had a work around in 5 minutes. Sometimes both methods have a place!
Landlines. They’re far better and more reliable than cell phones at making phone calls.
Hanging file folders, everytime I buy them, I am terrified that they won’t be there. Sorry to say it, but paper itself I totally love, and it’s on it’s way out as well.
Electric ranges with the electric range burner. The glass top stoves can’t be used for canning and the elements burn out and often fried the wire harness. That’s about $600 dollars in repairs you can’t do. Replacing the element on an electric range is easy peasy and an element will cost you $10 to $15 at most. GE stops making parts for it’s glass top stoves within 2-3 years so if your $1200 stove breaks a year or two out of warranty, you have to take it to the dump. Fk that st. The last electric range top I had lasted 20 years and still worked when we got the glass top. F**k, what a mistake.
Checking accounts. Yeah, I know about online banking, Venmo, and blah, blah, blah… l just prefer to have the paper records, and paper bills! Today I looked up a check I sent 9 months ago and now have proof I paid it. Bills too. Some credit card companies are charging you a 1.99 in order to send a paper bill. Corporations want to switch to ‘paperless’ because it’s easier and more profitable for them! If you have automatic payments, they get their money immediately, and they earn more interest that way. Also, if there’s a mistake and you’re not looking at your statements, it can go on for months!
Bicycles that don’t have motors.
Flip phones … can always go rogue when I feel like.
Is the tv obsolete yet? We no longer use it much. We sit in the living room, watching different videos on our tablets, the sound Bluetoothed to our hearing aids. But every once in a while, it’s nice to watch something on the big screen.
They can pry my TripTik out of my cold, dead, hands.
Timing lights, dwell meters, go/no go feeler gauges.
The Stanley Cup.
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