Old-School Tech: A List of Outdated Technology

Top 5 Old-School Tech: A List of Outdated Technology

With the progression of time also comes the progression of technology. Today’s newest and most advanced device will likely be replaced in a year with something even better. It’s at the point where thinking about how people lived even 10 years ago seems like torture; what did we ever do without Facebook and smartphones? Obviously people got along just fine with their compasses and quill pens (that might be a bit too far in the past) but advances in technology continue to make our lives easier. Let’s take a look at the technology that has used up its 5 minutes of fame.

1. Fax Machines

I can easily say that I won’t miss the evil that is the fax machine, for some reason we seem to have a mutual hate for each other. To be honest, faxing has been fairly unnecessary for a while but some people still feel more comfortable with a ‘hard copy’ document rather than one on a screen. Now that we have the ability to sign, scan and email documents just as easily and more reliably through email, fax machines have moved towards the storage closets rather than front and center of the copy room as they once were.

2. Pay Phones

With everyone from the age of 2 and up owning cell phones now, having public telephones where one has to pay with those things called coins is pointless. Even if someone didn’t have a cellphone, finding a fellow human to borrow one from would be like finding a piece of hay in a hay stack (that’s how the saying goes right?). The only real disadvantage of losing pay phones and phone booths is I now have no idea where Clark Kent plans on changing…

3. Home Phones

Having a land-line in a house that already has two or more cellphones has become obviously redundant. With our need for instant gratification the idea of waiting to call or talk to someone until we get home is something of the past. For those who still have a land-line it’s mostly used as the throw away number to give to people you don’t really want need to talk to or is used to avoid telemarketers. With cell phones the person who answers is most likely the person you are calling which eliminates the awkwardness of asking if someone’s home. Bonus: The bad guys in scary movies now have a bit more a struggle considering cutting the land-line would do nothing and we have those handy flashlight apps on our phones.

4. Cameras and Camcorders

Don’t lie it’s been a while since you’ve even seen the word ‘camcorder’ hasn’t it? Yet another fabulous invention now proved pointless with our smartphones. The only person who would need a point and shoot camera, a camcorder and a telephone would be a hoarder, or a hipster, but I’m sure the hipster would only use a 35 mm with black and white film. The cameras on our phones have become comparable to the resolution one would get with their digital camera and it has the convenience of being able to share your photos instantly on Facebook or Instagram. Also with all the new apps one can easily film and edit a full movie all from their own cellphone, removing the process of uploading images and videos from multiple different devices onto a computer to edit. For the professional photographers and videographers, having the separate camera is still a necessity but for the average person the smartphone is all we need to post photos of our pets.

5. CD’s and DVD’s

CD’s and DVD’s were once the greatest invention since … well … cassettes and VHS tapes. Being able to compile all those songs, movies or photos onto one donut shaped disc was groundbreaking. Collecting all of your favorites in a nice binder rather than shoe boxes saved quite a lot of space. But now people now have access to every song that’s ever been sung just through their phone or laptop with apps like Pandora and Spotify. And with Netflix and media players like D-Link’s MovieNite Plus (DSM-312), you can stream or rent movies anytime, from anywhere. Some people may stick to the old ways by keeping their physical copies (I still have my complete collection of 90’s boy band CD’s in my glove box) but getting half way through a movie and realizing its scratched is something I could happily live without.

The way technology moves at the speed of 11AC (get it?) it’s no surprise that almost as soon as new technology arrives it’s immediately replaced with the 2.0 version. So whether you’re the tech obsessed person that gets the newest and coolest phone once it’s released or the one who refuses to give up the flip phone from 2002 it’s totally cool, just make sure you’ve got at least one friend who paid attention in boy scouts or else when the zombie apocalypse finally happens we’re all done for