#ObsoleteTechnology #SurprisinglyUseful #TechnologyInnovation #TechTrends
π±πΎ What “obsolete” technology is still surprisingly useful? πΎπ±
Have you ever wondered about the “obsolete” technology that is still surprisingly useful in this modern age? Despite the constant evolution and innovation in the tech industry, there are some old-school technologies that have stood the test of time and continue to be relevant in our daily lives. In this article, we will explore some of these “obsolete” technologies and uncover how they are still surprisingly useful in the 21st century.
### The Resilience of Vinyl Records
1. **Analog Experience**: π΅ Vinyl records may seem like a thing of the past, but they offer a warm and rich sound that digital music often lacks. Many audiophiles prefer the analog experience of playing vinyl records on a turntable, appreciating the intricate details and nuances of the music.
2. **Collector’s Item**: π½ Vinyl records have become a collector’s item, with many music enthusiasts seeking out rare and vintage pressings for their unique artwork and historical significance.
3. **Vinyl Revival**: π Surprisingly, vinyl records are making a comeback in the music industry, with some artists releasing their new albums on vinyl to cater to the growing demand for physical music formats.
### The Timeless Utility of Fax Machines
1. **Secure Document Transmission**: π Despite the prevalence of email and digital document sharing, fax machines are still widely used in industries like healthcare, legal, and government where secure transmission of documents is crucial.
2. **Legal Validity**: π In many jurisdictions, faxed documents have legal validity and are often used for official communications and documentations.
3. **Reliable Technology**: π The simplicity and reliability of fax machines make them a practical choice for businesses that value secure and instantaneous document transmission.
### The Enduring Relevance of Typewriters
1. **Tactile Typing Experience**: β¨οΈ Typewriters provide a tactile typing experience that many writers and journalists still prefer over the digital keyboard. The rhythmic clacking of the keys and the sound of the carriage return evoke a sense of nostalgia and focus.
2. **Creative Inspiration**: π Many creative professionals use typewriters as a tool for brainstorming, drafting, and capturing ideas in a distraction-free environment.
3. **Artisanal Appeal**: π¨ Vintage typewriters have an artisanal appeal, and some collectors and enthusiasts appreciate them as a piece of functional art.
### The Longevity of CD and DVD Players
1. **Physical Media Playback**: πΏ Despite the shift towards digital streaming, CD and DVD players are still in use for playing physical media such as music albums, movies, and software installations.
2. **Reliability and Quality**: π₯ When it comes to high-quality audio and video playback, CD and DVD players continue to offer a reliable and consistent experience without the buffering or streaming issues that can occur with digital content.
3. **Archival Purposes**: π Many individuals and organizations still rely on CD and DVD players for archiving and accessing data stored on optical discs.
In conclusion, the “obsolete” technologies mentioned above may have been overshadowed by more modern innovations, but they continue to serve specific purposes and hold a special place in the hearts of enthusiasts and practical users alike. As we embrace the future of technology, it’s important to recognize and appreciate the enduring usefulness of these timeless artifacts in our ever-changing digital landscape. After all, sometimes the beauty of technology lies in its ability to transcend time and trends.
#ObsoleteTechnology #SurprisinglyUseful #TechnologyInnovation #TechTrends
People laugh at me for still holding on to my DVDs and Blu-Rays, especially since I also like to stream, but when The Office gets moved around to a new service for the umpteenth time and they don’t want to take five minutes to find a way to pirate it, they’ll be grateful for my box set.
Books. Actual printed books.
I have a dictaphone I keep by my bed. I sleep poorly and use an old ipod with podcasts and a pillow speaker to try and sleep. Sometime I think of things or remember things or a Podcast inspires something so I record it. Sometimes it is days later I download it and I am really amazed how useful my past self can be, I always thought he was an ass.
Analogue radios.
For me, pen and paper. I prefer to write down stuff rather than type. I don’t know why.
Manual transmission vehicles – Often jokingly referred to as a “Millennial/American anti-theft device.”
Mechanical controls (such as buttons, dials, and switches) – In the event of a failure, they’re supposed to be easier to fix than digital controls (such as touchscreen displays).
Gas & wood/coal burning – I can still operate a gas stove during a power outage. I can heat my house with a wood-burning stove during a power outage. A gas stove can heat up faster than electric. This next one is more subjective, but food cooked on coal can taste better than food cooked on an electric griddle.
Mechanical clocks. Power does go out now and then.
I’ve changed the batteries in my calculator once in 30 years.
I still borrow DVDs from my local library. Cheapest streaming service there is, and with infallible quality control. They don’t have bad movies.
Wood stove.
* Can get fuel with nothing more than a handsaw or axe (chain saw helps)
* Very very reliable
* Does not need any electricity to work
* Technically carbon neutral
Pager. Still used by the medical profession because itβs more reliable in the hospitals where cellphones get no reception.
Slide ruler
AM Radio & Ham Radio
Wired headphones. Zero interference and no need to charge. Just have to find a phone or device that has a jack.
I have oil lamps and boxes of kitchen matches in five rooms. Besides being pretty antiques, they are good for power outages.
ITT people mentioning a bunch of things which are anything but obsolete, only not new
Faxes for the medical industry. Itβs a surprisingly quick & secure way to transfer patient records. Itβs all done digitally now (for the most part) and can easily be converted into PDFs.
read the entire thread… nothing you guys have written is actually obsolete. Some dude said “pencils” are obsolete.
Landline phones.. I know they still exist but we donβt even have one. Sometimes wish I did when battery is dead or issues with βconnection.β Landline phones are more reliable.
I have my grandmother’s hand crank meat grinder from Germany. I use it only occasionally to grind actually meat, but if I’m making nut butter, running it. through the meat grinder initially saves a lot of time, as well as wear and tear on the blender.
Pagers. After working at a hospital I can say those damns keep you updated faster than smartphones.
landline phones. People think they are obsolete but they work where cell phones dont. They dont need “bars”. They dont need charging. They dont even need electricity so you can call emergency services when the power goes out for extended periods of time. You can also fax thru a phone line which you cant with a cell phone
Ipod/Mp3/Mp4 player. Phones can work in a similar way, but with their battery capacity, it’s better to have a separate device for music or audio books.
Physical paper calenders. Nothing beats the feeling of having a physical calender on the wall which you can write on and check in an instant without having to pull out your phone. It’s even better if you grew up with physical calenders.
Living in south eastern NC, where we get hit with a lot of hurricanes & bad storms that constantly knock out our power. Candles!
Ms paint
As a student pilot: maps. *so far* in my training, we’ve been using maps as our main source of navigation and gps as a sort of backup. This could just be because I’m a student, and this might change when I’m a licensed pilot.
COBOL – all the folks who know it are dying off and [banks still run on it](https://www.pcmag.com/articles/ibms-plan-to-update-cobol-with-watson).
CDs.Β Β Β Only our most recent car is post CD player and I kind of want to buy an external one. We have a huge CD case and they’re so nice on road trips. No signal issues, no queues or playlists to make, better sound quality, just pop one in and enjoy the songs the way the band intended.Β
Mechanical buttons in car dashboards. I donβt know why every control has to be accessed via touch screen.
Zune! I can leave it anywhere and no one will steal it. Of course they donβt know what it is either.
Having a map, and being able to actually read it. Just the basics of orientation and map reading are still so valuable. If navigation went down overnight, I donβt think even 10% of people could get to their jobs even with a map.
Let alone having any basic understanding of a compass or the being able to at least find the rough cardinal directions based of the stars.
Iβd say any basic practical knowledge like this is becoming more and more rare.
Printed maps, the number of times my phone has died while exploring a city has made me either memorize a city map or get a printed city map.