The Fax: An Ancient Technology That Resists

Fax is a technology that is now considered vintage, but it continues to find space in some offices and among celebrities. A prime example is Dolly Parton, who prefers sending faxes to text messages. Currently, about 25 million people in the world still use this device.

The Fax Revival

The Guardian recently delved into the subject, launching a reader survey to find out who is still using fax. A surprising fact is that a train company in the north of Britain continues to use fax to manage the shifts of its train crews. In Germany, a survey published in July revealed that a quarter of companies use fax machines frequently. These devices are also present in many German hospitals, where their reliability is appreciated.

Safety and Tradition

Japanese officials are among the most loyal users of fax, citing the reduced risk of hacking associated with the technology as a major advantage. Faxing turns a stream of sound into pulses of ink, making it less vulnerable than modern communication methods. Dolly Parton is another supporter of this method: she refuses to send modern messages and prefers to use the fax to communicate with her “goddaughter”, Miley Cyrus. This choice reflects a preference for more direct and personal communication.

An Unexpected Phenomenon

Statistics from analytics firm Gitnux confirm that 25 million fax machines are still in use worldwide, demonstrating that despite the advent of more modern technologies, the fax machine manages to maintain its relevance. This revival of objects from the past also includes audio cassettes, basic telephones and floppy disks, all symbols of an era that many continue to appreciate. The persistence of fax in today’s technological landscape highlights how even technologies considered obsolete can find new applications and advocates.