Tape recorders, fax machines top list of office tech endangered species

Tape recorders, fax machines, and the Rolodex are the top three office technologies that may soon become extinct in the next five years, according to a survey conducted by professional networking site LinkedIn.

 

LinkedIn said the survey involved 7,278 of its members in 18 countries on what office tools and trends are likely to disappear by 2017.

 

An infographic listed the top 10 office tech that may be headed for extinction as:

 

- Tape recorders

- Fax machines

- The Rolodex

- Standard work hours

- Desk phones

 

"Nearly three quarters of those surveyed said they expected fax machines to disappear, making it the second most likely office technology to go extinct behind tape recorders," Mashable said. Citing the LinkedIn survey, Mashable said 79 percent of respondents think the tape recorder will vanish, while 71 percent think the same way about fax machines.

 

Some 58 percent think the Rolodex will vanish by 2017, while 57 percent believe standard working hours will be gone by then. About 35 percent think desk phones will also soon be out.

 

Rounding out the top 10 office tech perceived as heading for extinction are:

 

- Desktop computers, 34 percent

- Formal business attire like suits, etc., 27 percent

- Corner office for managers and executives, 21 percent

- Cubicles, 19 percent

- USB thumb drives, 17 percent.

 

"The survey is just the latest example that workplaces are gradually abandoning analog technologies for digital. Those in the workforce will need to adapt to these changes or else risk having technological skills that are obsolete as well," Mashable said.

 

Meanwhile, the LinkedIn infographic also indicated the top three dream office tools, which are:

 

- A clone to help you through your day

- A place in the office that provides natural sunlight

- A quiet place in the office where napping is allowed.

 

Other creative office upgrades the respondents suggested included:

 

- Private lift to one's parking space

- A chair that would generate heat

- An office tea trolley

- A ping-pong table

- A room with punching bags. — ELR, GMA News