Offices have changed over the past 65 years — not just in terms of technology

But also how we work, communicate, and organize businesses.

Here’s a concise comparison to highlight the transformation:

Offices Then (circa 1960s)

  1. Communication
  • Typed letters using manual typewriters.
  • Shorthand was common; secretaries transcribed bosses’ spoken words.
  • Telex and telefax machines were used for long-distance written messages.
  • Landline telephones were the norm — often with rotary dials and switchboards.
  1. Documentation & Filing
  • Paper files in filing cabinets.
  • Carbon copies used for duplicates.
  • Physical mail (snail mail) for correspondence and record-keeping.
  1. Work Roles
  • Many clerical staff — typists, stenographers, filing clerks.
  • Hierarchical structures — bosses dictated, secretaries typed.
  • Face-to-face meetings or long memos dominated communication.
  1. Technology
  • No computers or internet.
  • Manual calculators or early electro-mechanical versions.
  • Duplicating machines (e.g. Gestetner) for mass printing.

Offices Now (2020s)

  1. Communication
  • Email, instant messaging (Slack, Teams), and video calls (Zoom, Meet).
  • Voice-to-text and AI transcription replace shorthand.
  • Global collaboration in real-time.
  1. Documentation & Filing
  • Digital documents (Word, PDFs, Google Docs).
  • Cloud storage replaces filing cabinets.
  • Searchable databases instead of manually indexed files.
  1. Work Roles
  • Administrative roles have evolved — fewer typists, more knowledge workers.
  • Automation reduces repetitive tasks.
  • Remote and hybrid work has become mainstream.
  1. Technology
  • Laptops, tablets, smartphones — mobile and connected.
  • AI tools assist with writing, scheduling, analysis.
  • Real-time collaboration via platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace.

In Summary

From manual to digital. From paper to cloud. From local to global.

Offices have shifted from mechanical efficiency to digital agility. The typing pool is gone, but in its place are tools and platforms that let individuals produce, communicate, and collaborate more quickly and flexibly than ever before.