From dialling 1471 to mixtapes, the 25 things about old technology we miss the most

A survey of 2,000 people found that we miss mixtapes and physical photos the most

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Making mixtapes, printing photographs and sending love letters are among the tasks replaced by technology which we miss doing, a study has found.

The poll of 2,000 adults revealed a string of formerly common tasks which have been replaced by the rise of technology, wi-fi and smartphones.

Carrying a portable CD player, owning an encyclopedia and being able to remember phone numbers of loved ones off by heart are also among the things that technology has made easier, but that we wish hadn’t fallen victim to the online boom.

However, 51 per cent admit they don’t miss having to queue in a post office to buy their car tax while 40 per cent are glad they no longer have to buy TV listings to see what is on the box.

The British Airways commissioned study found 58 per cent of people reckon the majority of their activities now rely heavily on technology, with 54 per cent of those admitting it’s important they can connect to wi-fi when travelling to keep them content at all times.

Carolina Martinoli, from British Airways, said: “Technology and the internet has evolved so much in recent years that tasks we once considered to be regular parts of our day are now done for us online.

“The results show us how dependant we have become on the internet and being connected at all times – even while travelling.

“We know how cut off people can feel if they can’t get online so, for a limited time on selected flights, British Airways customers can enjoy an hour of free browsing and streaming, courtesy of Visa, to keep them connected even when they are in the air.”

Making a mixtape is the activity people miss doing the most followed by putting photos into an album and recording TV shows and films onto VHS.

Having physical photos printed out and the excitement of taking in a film to be developed before you see how they came out completed the top five.

Writing a letter came sixth, with sending love letters and post cards following close behind.

Having a pen friend came ninth while having a CD collection was at 10.

But it also emerged that reliance on the internet and technology has made life much easier, with 48 per cent of those polled saying there is now less need to know their times tables off by heart and 43 per cent don’t miss having to fax documents.

The study, carried out via onepoll.com found the average adult spends just over four hours of each day on the internet, with almost one in five admitting they are never more than a few feet away from an internet-enabled device.

More than one in 10 admitted they would feel lost if they were unable to go online, while 26 per cent would feel completely cut off.

Two thirds say they are often looking for wi-fi hotspots when they are away from home, with the average adult admitting they would struggle to last longer than seven hours without the internet before they started to feel anxious.

The survey also found that 40 per cent of Britons would use one hour of wi-fi to check social media, 37 per cent said they would email friends and family and three in 10 would read the news.

Others would do online shopping, download and listen to music and watch catch-up TV.​

Top 25 things we miss but no longer do due to technology

1. Making mixtapes

2. Put photos into albums

3. Recording films and TV shows using VHS

4. Having printed photos around the house

5. The excitement of having photographs developed before you can see them

6. Handwritten letters

7. Sending love letters

8. Sending postcards

9. Having pen friends

10. Buying CDs and having a CD collection

11. Using public telephones

Relic of a bygone era? (Getty) (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

12. Using a telephone directory

13. Carrying a portable CD player

14. Going into the travel agents to research a holiday

15. Buying disposable cameras

16. Turning to a hard copy of the Yellow Pages

The rise of search engines such as Google have left paper directories struggling to remain viable (Getty)

17. Playing traditional board games or cards

18. Owning an encyclopedia

19. Dialling directory enquiries

20. Visiting car boot sales to sell old stuff

21. Remembering phone numbers off by heart

22. Hand-writing essays and school work

Remember the feeling of putting pen on paper? (iStock) (iStock / everydayplus)

23. Ringing the speaking clock

24. Trying on pairs of shoes on the high street

25. Dialling 1471 to see who called while you were out

SWNS