When my kids and grans were much younger, we recorded their voices on tape without their knowledge using old portable recorder. Such a treasure to have !

A very long time ago my DHs cousin had her elderly mother record the family history in all her great family stories. It kept her occupied while she was in hospice and helped her connect. She made copies for her children. They are wonderful to have. Today they can do things like that right at the computer or smart phone.

A year or two ago my SIL's father in his mid-90's decided to add to some of a WW2 memoir that he'd started earlier. Since he was no longer able to type, he used a cassette recorder, and I still had a player that worked, already set up behind my desk here, so I got to type out what he said. It was a wonderfully exciting story because he was a navigator on a B-17, and they most certainly had some adventures and close calls. Oddly, the cassette player was just part of a little shelf system my kids had gotten for me some years ago that has an MP3 player, which I used until it failed, and I still use the radio in it, but I don't think I'd ever used the cassette before (or since). It served its one purpose. The dear old man has since passed away, so there will be no more stories from him.

I like to listen to books while I sew, so I got an MP3 with ear phones and
download mystery books from the local library.

People I know use their cell phones. I haven't had any use for a recorder in years. I still have a small cassette recorder that probably still works. I used to be Recording Secretary for a group and used it at meetings. I was always going to record my mom talking about our family history. I never got around to it and still kick myself for it. Kudos to those or you who have done this.