Inspired by internet user u/Tall_Mickey, the members of the r/AskOldPeople online community opened up about the seemingly ‘obsolete’ and old-school things that they’re glad are still around. Scroll down to see what they had to share, from physical maps to stick shifts and beyond. It’s a blast from the past and a reminder that it’s not all digital, even in this day and age!
Bored Panda reached out to marketing psychology speaker Matt Johnson, Ph.D., the host of the branding and human nature blogs, to hear his thoughts on the topic. From his perspective, there will always be a niche for analog technology because of the experience it offers. We also got in touch with the author of the captivating online discussion, redditor u/Tall_Mickey, who shared their perspective on the pros of older devices, as well as why search engines are actually a great invention. Be sure not to miss both of our interviews below!
To be honest, some design changes just aren’t all that consumer-friendly. It makes you want to stick to older 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?
But for others, this new tech adds an extra level of complexity. Namely, dealing with batteries and syncing up devices. Yours truly is currently writing this while listening to music on an old-school iPod with wired earbuds. Why? Because the device has reliably worked for the past decade and a half. Because the iPod’s battery lasts longer than that of a smartphone (step up your battery longevity game, tech companies!). And because I don’t want to shell out for a pair of Bluetooth headphones just because my phone suddenly doesn’t have an audio jack anymore.
What old-school or analog things are you still glad exist, dear Pandas? On the flip side, what newer and digital innovations are you genuinely happy to see? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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