September 27, 2012

Old Reliable Office Tools Becoming Ancient History

By Oliver VanDervoort
Contributing Writer

Most people would agree that the 21st century office space is quite different than it was just 10 years ago. Despite that almost universal agreement, most would also probably be surprised at just how many changes have occurred. 

Technology, especially, has taken several giant leaps forward when talking about the average American office. Social networking site LinkedIn (News - Alert) just released a fun little survey it took of over 7,000 professionals that use the site. LinkedIn released an endangered species list of office tools and hardware that these professionals believe could disappear from offices altogether by the end of 2017.

Image via Shutterstock

While some of these tools, such as tape recorders (79 percent said they would disappear in the next five years) really are reminiscent of a bygone era some are quite a bit newer. Tape recorders and the desk top phone (35 percent say they are disappearing) are being replaced by digital recorders and personal smartphones. Fax machines (71 percent saying goodbye) are another tool that is being slowly but completely replaced by digital scanners or simply by the advanced use of e-mail.

Computers, smartphones and mobile devices that have their own built in contact collections is one of the reasons that 58 percent of those surveyed believe that the Rolodex is fading away. Perhaps some of the more interesting things that professionals see as fading away are the standard working day and the USB thumb drive. 

The work day has been changing for a while now, as more people are able to work from home, keeping less traditional hours in the process. The USB thumb drive is an interesting obsolete object because of all the tools on this list, it is actually the newest. The explosion of cloud computing has made it possible to no longer have to have a little device that you plug into whatever computer you need and then unplug and carry it home. Nowadays, you can simply upload to the cloud and download wherever you need.

Professionals in the United States believe that the tablet computer is the one tool that is beginning to “rule the world” with 62-percent saying that this is the most important office tool around these days.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO Austin 2012, taking place Oct. 2-5, in Austin, TX. Stay in touch with everything happening at ITEXPO (News - Alert). Follow us on Twitter.

Edited by Brooke Neuman