Old tech is not so bad after all
One of my favourite pieces of tech is my $70 digital watch. While it has a few extra features, such as a stopwatch and alarm, I really only use it to check the time.
I probably could have spent half the amount, but I needed a watch that is waterproof. When compared to the latest smartwatches, it’s basic tech. It can’t play music, send messages or emails, record my heartbeat, track my runs or provide help from a digital assistant. However, it never needs charging and it does its one job very well.
Digital watches have been around for nearly 50 years and they haven’t changed that much. It was only in this decade when smartwatches arrived that the digital watch looked to be under threat.
While smartwatches such as the Apple Watch and the Samsung Gear get good reviews, you don’t see too many people wearing them. I’ve tried both but the extra features were not worth the cost and hassle of daily charging.
Smartwatches can be great for fitness fans, but I just need to know the time. But the digital watch is not the only ‘‘old tech’’ that is worth keeping around.
Notebooks, alarm clocks, cameras and credit cards are all enduring despite hi-tech alternatives. Despite a plethora of note-taking apps, it’s almost impossible to take notes during a meeting while using a phone or tablet. A laptop is OK if you’re fast at typing but it can be rude and intrusive.
Writing in a notebook lets you stay engaged with the meeting and it’s also quiet. Alarm clocks have largely been replaced by phones but if you’re losing sleep because you’re distracted by your device, then try leaving it in the kitchen and using an alarm clock instead.
A similar rule applies for cameras. Going on a day trip with just a camera lets you focus on taking pictures and not being distracted by your phone. And while you can use your smartwatch or phone to pay when shopping, the credit card lives on in all our wallets.
The smartphone may have bitten a huge chunk out of these gadgets’ popularity, but I can’t see them becoming completely obsolete. Sometimes a simple gadget is better.