Advances in technology have shaped the world we live in - most of the time - for the better. However, some of the activities we used to carry out have been killed by these technological advances and have resulted in lazy behaviour. 

An article in The Telegraph lists the top '50 things killed by technology', which apply to most of us out there. Take a look and see if you agree:

1. Ring the cinema to find out times

2. Going into the travel agents to research a holiday

3. Record things using VHS

4. Dial directory enquiries

5. Use public telephone boxes

Telephone_booth

6. Book tickets for events over the phone

7. Print photos

8. Put a classified ad in the shop window

9. Ring the speaking clock

10. Carry portable CD players

11. Write handwritten letters

12. Buy disposable cameras

13. Take plenty of change for pay phones

14. Make mix tapes

15. Pay bills at the post office 

Post_office_queue

16. Use an address book

17. Check a map before or during car journey18. Reverse charges in payphones

19. Go into the bank or building society to conduct your business

20. Buy TV listings

21. Own an encyclopaedia

22. Queue to get car tax in Post Office

23. Develop and send off for photographs

24. Read a hard copy of the Yellow Pages

Yellow_pages
25. Look up something in dictionary

26. Remember phone numbers/ Have a phone book

27. Watch VHS videos

28. Have pen friends

29. Use a telephone directory

30. Use pagers

31. Fax things

32. Buy CD's/ Have a CD collection 

 33. Pay by cheque

34. Make photo albums

35. Watch programmes at the time they are shown

36. Dial 1471 when you get home

37. Warm milk or other hot drinks on stove

38. Try on lots of pairs of shoes on high street

39. Hand wash clothes

Hand-wash-clothes
 40. Advertise in trading papers

41. Send love letters42. Hand-write essays / school work

43. Buy flowers from a florist

44. Work out how to spell something yourself

45. Keep a personal diary

46. Send post cards

47. Buy newspapers

48. Hang washing out in winter

49. Keep printed bills or bank statements

50. Visit car boot sales

Car_boot_sale
Obviously, there are some people out there who still write hand written letters, buy disposable cameras and get flowers from the florist, but most of the activities listed above have been made obsolete due to technology. 

 

In many ways, I think this is rather sad, as pastimes like ringing up the cinema to talk to that automated voice which tries to guess what you're saying was all part of the fun! No?  

 

And as for faxing, dictionaries and encyclopaedias - I’m pretty sure my office still has these!

 

So my plea is for everyone to remember the good old days - go try on shoes, buy newspapers and write love letters! I'm sure you won’t regret it.