What Obsolete Skills do you have?
I was amused and intrigued by this wiki that has been developing in response to a post by Robert Scoble regarding the techy stuff we used to know how to do but are no longer needed. Things like:
- Dialing a rotary phone
- Changing tracks on an eight-track tape
- Using a slide rule
- Using the eraser ribbon on a typewriter
So, I have been mulling it a bit to see if I have some of those kinds of “old school” skills. I know my dad does: reading an oscilloscope, building a television set, using a timing gun on your car, splicing together broken cassette and VHS tapes.
My obsolete skill set seems to be much smaller and still, arguably, relevant in many situations:
- Configuring a printer in Mac OS 7
- Operating a mimeograph machine (I never did that very well, but I loved the smell)
- Building a CAT 5 network cable
- Recalling IP addresses way too easily
- Duplicating cassette to cassette
- Changing the oil on a Volkswagon Rabbit
Does this “changing of the guard” make you sad or long for the good old days? I get nostalgic but not really morose over the changes. I mean without constant technology changes, I would be out of my current job. Of course, I still use my turntable so I don’t let go of things too easily! I guess you have to find the happy place for yourself and your techno skills.
I’m sure I will think of more obsolete skills I have. Head over to the wiki and add your own set o’ skills!!
Obsolete Skils: Main/Home Page
Image: ‘AM radio‘
www.flickr.com/photos/70991854@N00/1393958
