20 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade

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HuffingtonPost recently put up a story called You're Out: 20 Things That BecameObsolete This Decade. It's a great retrospective on the technology leapswe've made since the new century began, and it got me thinking about the differencetoday's technology will make in the lives of tomorrow's kids.

I'veused some of their ideas and added some of my own to make the list below: Doyou think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following?

Videotape: Starting this year, the news stories we produce here atMoney Talks have all been shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations withoutever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camerawe use today offers much higher quality than anything that could have beenimagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we wereusing previously.

Travelagents: While not dead today, this profession is one of many that'sbeen decimated by the Internet. When it's time for their honeymoon, will thoseborn in 2011 be able to find one?

Theseparation of work and home: When you're carrying anemail-equipped computer in your pocket, it's not just your friends who can findyou -- so can your boss. For kids born this year, the wall between office andhome will be blurry indeed.

Books,magazines, and newspapers: Like video tape, words written ondead trees are on their way out. Sure, there may be books -- but for those borntoday, stores that exist solely to sell them will be as numerous as recordstores are now.

Movierental stores: You actually got in your car and drove someplacejust to rent a movie?

Watches:Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which ispretty much always in your hand.

Papermaps: At one time these were available free at every gas station.They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably haveto visit a museum to find one.

Wiredphones: Why would you pay $35 every month to have a phone thatplugs into a wall? For those born today, this will be a silly concept.

Longdistance: Thanks to the Internet, the days of paying more to talk tosomebody in the next city, state, or even country are limited.

Newspaperclassifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of newsprintjust to see what's for sale.

Dial-upInternet: While not everyone is on broadband, it won't be long beforedial-up Internet goes the way of the plug-in phone.

Encyclopedias:Imagine a time when you had to buy expensive books that were outdated beforethe ink was dry. This will be a nonsense term for babies born today.

Forgottenfriends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you wentto high school with, and you'd say, "Oh yeah, I forgot about them!"The next generation will automatically be in touch with everyone they've everknown even slightly via Facebook.

Forgottenanything else: Kids born this year will never know what it was like tostand in a bar and incessantly argue the unknowable. Today the world'scollective knowledge is on the computer in your pocket or purse. And since youhave it with you at all times, why bother remembering anything?

Theevening news: The news is on 24/7. And if you're not home to watch it,that's OK -- it's on the smartphone in your pocket.

CDs: Firstrecords, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your musiccollection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close asthe nearest Internet connection.

Filmcameras: For the purist, perhaps, but for kids born today, the word"film" will mean nothing. In fact, even digital cameras -- both videoand still -- are in danger of extinction as our pocket computers take over thatfunction too.

Yellowand White Pages: Why in the world would you need a 10-pound book just tofind someone?

Catalogs:There's no need to send me a book in the mail when I can see everything youhave for sale anywhere, anytime. If you want to remind me to look at it, sendme an email.

Faxmachines: Can you say "scan," ".pdf" and"email?"

Onepicture to a frame: Such a waste of wall/counter/deskspace to have a separate frame around each picture. Eight gigabytes of picturesand/or video in a digital frame encompassing every person you've ever met andeverything you've ever done -- now, that's efficient. Especially compared towhat we used to do: put our friends and relatives together in a room and forcethem to watch what we called a "slide show" or "homemovies."

Wires:Wires connecting phones to walls? Wires connecting computers, TVs, stereos, andother electronics to each other? Wires connecting computers to the Internet? Tokids born in 2011, that will make as much sense as an electric car trailing anextension cord.

Hand-writtenletters: For that matter, hand-written anything. When was the lasttime you wrote cursive? In fact, do you even know what the word"cursive" means? Kids born in 2011 won't -- but they'll put you toshame on a tiny keyboard.

Talkingto one person at a time: Remember when it was rude to bewith one person while talking to another on the phone? Kids born today willjust assume that you're supposed to use texting to maintain contact with fiveor six other people while pretending to pay attention to the person you happento be physically next to.

Retirementplans: Yes, Johnny, there was a time when all you had to do waswork at the same place for 20 years and they'd send you a check every month foras long as you lived. In fact, some companies would even pay your medicalbills, too!

Mail:What's left when you take the mail you receive today, then subtract the billsyou could be paying online, the checks you could be having direct-deposited,and the junk mail you could be receiving as junk email? Answer: A bloatedbureaucracy that loses billions of taxpayer dollars annually.

Commercialson TV: They're terrifically expensive, easily avoided with DVRs,and inefficiently target mass audiences. Unless somebody comes up with a way toforce you to watch them -- as with video on the Internet -- who's going to payfor them?

Commercialmusic radio: Smartphones with music-streaming programs like Pandora area better solution that doesn't include ads screaming between every song.

Hiding:Not long ago, if you didn't answer your home phone, that was that -- nobodyknew if you were alive or dead, much less where you might be. Now your phone isnot only in your pocket, it can potentially tell everyone -- includingadvertisers -- exactly where you are.

MOD NOTE: Duplicate post

Edited January 8, 2011 by jack10562
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