Can slower technology offer hidden gifts?

For my birthday, my wife gave me a vinyl record player and a Prince album. I was so excited. One of the first things I did was head over to Yelp and search for record stores in the area. I found one with great reviews and even a 99-cent section. Once the weekend arrived, I visited the store and left with some new albums.

I’ve always loved music. I was an early adopter of iTunes, owned an iPod, and eventually subscribed to Spotify. With platforms like YouTube, any song you want is just a click away.

But when I plugged in my record player in my office, opened the package, and took out the first album, something magical happened. There was something special about holding the record, placing it on the player, watching it spin, and hearing the sound come out. The sound quality wasn’t amazing, but that wasn’t the point. It was about the nostalgia—the memories of my childhood when my parents gave me my first Winnie the Pooh record player. I remember listening to Elvis and Kiss for hours.

Now, I find joy in listening to these jazz albums on vinyl. It’s slower, peaceful, and mindful. I’m not saying I’m going to ditch my Spotify account, Bluetooth speakers, or AI tools—I love technology. But as I paused to reflect, I began to wonder: What other gifts lie in the past? What might we discover if we occasionally choose slower, simpler technology?

What are some "slower technologies" from your past that you could revisit, and how might they enhance your life today?