Thursday 8 October 2020

Things that we don’t do anymore because of technology! #Blogtober20

I am taking part in Blogtober20 throughout October and today's prompt is "Millennium".

On January 1, 2000 we celebrated the beginning of the new millennium. For me it seems a whole lifetime ago. I was in a relationship which I thought was going to last forever (it didn't). I worked in a Black & Decker factory making power tools and I had no kids.


It's hard to believe how much has changed in my life and in the world around me. Technology has changed over the last 20 years. Things that once seemed routine now seem hopelessly out of date and everyday tasks have been made a lot simpler by tech, Wi-Fi and smartphones.

Here are some of those rituals that are no longer necessary:

Memorising a phone number!
 Before our smart phones stored our friends phone numbers we had to actually write them down or even remember them. If you asked me my home phone number I couldn't tell you it. I know the area code and that's about it the same for all my families phone numbers.

Using The Yellow Pages to find a company to do work around your house!
Once upon a time we flipped through the Yellow Pages and randomly called a plumber, electrician, a gardener or whatever company to do work around out house and hope they were up to it. Now we can look online and see reviews of work they've done or ask in a Facebook group for a recommendation. It is so much easier.

Going grocery shopping!
We had to plan, make a list of the things to be bought before taking time to go to the nearby shops for the week. This has been made easier by online shopping. I would be lost without the supermarkets delivering to me!

Sending handwritten letters!
I can't remember the last time I wrote a handwritten letter. Email's and text messages are so much quicker. A letter does seem like such a chore, writing it, finding a stamp and posting it. It's a shame as there is nothing better than receiving a handwritten letter.

Figuring out maths in your head!
Calculators have been around for a long time now but few of us ever carry calculators with us. That's where smart phones come in. My dad is at an age where he can work things out in his head, I can but I'm lazy and my girls wouldn't even think about working maths out in their head.

Using a dictionary!
I think the last time I used a dictionary I was at college. The kids only use them at school, at home they go straight to Google. There is a lot less need for them now especially when we're using computers more and there is spell checkers.

Using a paper map!
It'd be a rare sight to see someone standing on a street corner or driving holding a paper map. Sat Nav's and Google Maps have taken over and are a lot less hassle then trying to fold up one of those massive maps. I remember my dad used to have a skip hire business and couple spend an age trying to find an address where he needed to be, now he wouldn't be without his sat nav!

Cutting things out of a newspaper!
Many grandparents still love to buy newspapers and snip interesting articles out of them but now nearly every newspaper is online and can be instantly shared by email, social media, and even text message.

Using a phone box!
I couldn't even tell you where the nearest one to me is and I've not used one since the kids were little and that was only because my mobile ran out of charge. I had to ring my dad to ring Stu because my dad's was the only phone number I remembered. lol

Telling time by hands on a clock!
Digital clocks dominate the world now. On our smartphones, computers and even alarm clocks. I remember struggling to teach my girls how to tell the time because they were so used to digital clocks.

Having a CD or record collection!
 I used to love all of my CD's on the shelf but now they would just take up space. Everything is online or digital now. Why have a CD when you can just ask Spotify to play something.

Recording your favourite TV programs on vidoe tape!
My girls think VHS recorders are a stupid idea, they just can't get their head around recording something on a video tape them having to rewind it. Now we just press record on the Sky remote and watch it when we want. Not a video tape in sight.

Is there anything else you could add?


7 comments :

  1. This is a great list. It still strikes me as odd when people cut out an article from the newspaper and show it to me! I recently bought a CD, and loved the feel of it. My "real" watch has stopped... in fact it stopped years ago. I'm on a budget, so why buy a watch at all. I'm in a bit of a quandary about that.

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  2. Oh my gosh yes! That's a really good list! I can't believe how far technology has come over the years. I do remember looking things up in a dictionary hehe! Those were the days NOT! Give me google any day of the week. Though, I do think there's a gorgeous quality in hand written notes and letters that emails just can't replace. #blogtober20

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  3. LOL my mobile phone in Y2K had a list of mobile numbers sellotaped to the back of it LOL #Blogtober

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  4. I love this! My nan used to cut the newspaper snippets out as well, especially if she knew someone on there. I have a massive CD collection put away too! And even cassette tapes, but that's showing my age so we won't go there! Haha. xx

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  5. Memorising a phone number is definitely the strangest one. My husband has had the same number for about ten years, but I don't know it. He gets really offended about it, but he only knows mine because I used to do Avon and he always got the job of filling out the little forms that went with the books with my details!

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  6. Great list! I'd add, looking up directions on a map or a Thomas Brothers Guide. I remember doing this for an old delivery job. I'm not sure I'd even know how any more. Without Siri to guide me, I'm lost.

    It's interesting to think of how many things I grew up doing that my kids will never experience themselves. The world definitely changes fast!

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  7. OH so true!! I still know all the phone numbers of my grandparents (who have all passed on) and my home phone from growing up. #MMBC

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