21 pieces of ancient technology that have almost disappeared

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From pagers to floppy disks, these images are sure to confuse today’s kids.

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Floppy

First introduced to the computing world in the 1970s, floppy disks were once considered an innovative storage device for computers. Floppy disks were only up to 1.44 megabytes, though, so CDs took over in the 1990s. At least floppies still live on as the “save” icon.Doug Wilson/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

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cassette tapes

The cassette tape was first developed by the Philips company in the early 1960s. Revolutionary for its time, the cassette tape allowed users to record their own music and listen to it on the go. The invention of the portable Walkman in 1979 only improved the user experience.

But over time, the rise of CDs eclipsed the cassette. Although the Walkman soon launched CD players in the 1980s, it was only a matter of time before the rise of digital music downloads and more advanced media players made the Walkman obsolete as well.

Fryderyk Gabowicz/Image Alliance via Getty Images

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Disposable Cameras

In the 1990s and early 2000s, disposable cameras were a mainstay for vacationers (and anyone who couldn’t afford to invest in a good quality camera). Now, thanks to the modern smartphone, many of us don’t have to worry about throwing away a camera after using it just once.Gideon Mendel/Corbis via Getty Images

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Fixed telephones

The corded telephone dates back to the late 1800s, and landlines were important devices for many people across the United States for decades. However, they have been slowly made obsolete by mobile phones. According to AARP, only 2.3 percent of all households had a landline without cell phone service as of June 2020.William Gottlieb/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

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laser discs

In 1978 the innovative LaserDisc was born. A 12-inch video disc format, the LaserDisc offered higher quality picture and sound than other video tapes of the time. It failed to break into the mainstream due to its prohibitive cost, but has been credited as the forerunner of DVDs.Scott Beale/Smiling Squid/Flickr

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answering machines

Before there was voicemail, you needed a separate device to record missed calls on your landline phone when you weren’t home. Enter the answering machine, with its quaint little cassette tape containing your messages. Kitsya/Wikimedia Commons

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Pager

One communication solution to the limitations of a landline phone was the humble pager. Popular in the 1990s, this device allowed you to see the phone number of a person trying to reach you. If you can’t get to your landline in a timely manner, you can find the nearest payphone to call back.jjandames/Flickr

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standalone GPS units

Starting in the late 1980s, stand-alone GPS units helped many drivers get to their final destination without having to refer to a paper map. But now that our smartphones can do this quite easily too, and some cars even come equipped with built-in GPS systems, standalone devices are slowly disappearing.mpd01605/Flickr

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ipods

Apple revolutionized the MP3 player in 2001 when the company released the first iPod. At five gigabytes, the iPod allowed users to store up to 1,000 songs, an amazing feat at the time. But today we have much more space on our smartphones.SAMANTHA SIN/AFP via Getty Images

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dial-up internet

Many of us cannot hear the term “dial-up” without also hearing the deafening sounds that go along with it. Fortunately, companies began offering broadband connection options in the early 2000s, and we no longer had to choose between using the phone or the Internet.Ross Land/Getty Images

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overhead projectors

Whether in the classroom or boardroom, overhead projectors displayed images and text on transparent backgrounds, working their magic on pull-down projector screens. Now, there are countless better, smaller and more reliable digital options available to do this job. Wikimedia Commons

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car phones

The car phone was one of the most coveted status symbols of the 1980s and early 1990s. Seen in the hands of musicians, actors, and other wealthy drivers, this device was actually more popular than a regular mobile phone in a given moment. But as cordless phones got lighter, the car phone faded into obscurity in the early 2000s.Ari Mintz/Newsday RM via Getty Images

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paid phones

Once upon a time, if you had to make a call while you were away from home, you needed to find a pay phone and some pocket change. Phone booths still exist today, but have become much less common with the rise of mobile phones.Viviane Moos/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

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planes

Today, entertainment screens appear on the backs of airline seats. But starting in the 1970s, some planes had phones to fill that gap. With Airfone, passengers could make air-to-ground calls. During the 9/11 terrorist attacks, some of the hijacked plane passengers were able to make final phone calls to their loved ones using this technology. However, the Airfone would eventually die out in the early 2000s.Mike Kuniavsky/Wikimedia Commons

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dot matrix printers

Dot matrix printers, once a mainstay in many offices in the 1970s and 1980s, were eventually replaced by more modern inkjet and laser printers.steverhode/Flickr

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VHS tapes

Video Home System (VHS) tapes and the video cassette recorders (VCRs) that played them arrived in the United States in 1977 and quickly became a home entertainment staple. However, in 2004, DVDs outsold them at a rate of 40 to 1. Washington Post he even wrote an obituary about her “death” a year later. Wikimedia Commons

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cathode ray tube televisions

Cathode ray tube televisions were the mainstay of televisions for decades beginning in the 1920s. That is, until modern LCD and plasma televisions took over in the early 2000s.Brandt Luke Zorn/Solomon203/Wikimedia Commons (photomontage illustration)

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fax machines

In the 1980s and 1990s, the fax machine was a common sight in many businesses. Back then, it was a remarkably efficient way to copy documents in one place and print them in another. However, it was eventually superseded by the convenience of email.Yortw/Flickr

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segways

A self-balancing two-wheeled vehicle, the Segway personal transporter was popular with tourists and members of law enforcement in the 2000s and 2010s. But the Segway never caught on with the general public and production was officially stopped. in 2020.Ricardo Funari/Brazil Photos/LightRocket via Getty Images

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Typewriters

Perhaps one of the most famous pieces of ancient technology, the typewriter conjures up images of literary icons striking keys. Throughout the 20th century, innovators worked tirelessly to improve it, eventually making it electric and portable. But the rise of the laptop eventually turned many people away from using typewriters. In 2011, one of the world’s last manual typewriter factories had closed in India.George Karger/Getty Images

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PDA

The PDA was a personal digital assistant device that contained contact information, calendars, important documents, and more. Popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, this once-thriving technology was possibly a precursor to today’s smartphone.NZeemin/Wikimedia Commons

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Fixed Old Technology

21 innovative technologies that have almost disappeared in the digital age

With technology advancing every second the world turns, the lifespan of certain devices ends up being quite short. Some of these once groundbreaking objects were barely a decade old when we introduced their modern replacements. However, these pieces of old technology still hold a special place in the collective memory of society.

Some of us may remember people who eagerly bought stand-alone GPS units for their cars in the late 1980s. And by the late 1990s, anyone who was anyone seemed to have a PalmPilot device. But perhaps one of the most shocking recent additions to the dead list is Apple’s famous iPod.

After the release of the iPod in 2001, it was almost impossible to imagine anything topping it. And yet it happened, just six short years later, with the first iPhone. Now, according to Apple, even the most advanced version of the iPod touch has gone to that great charging station in the sky.

Not surprisingly, many of these technologies were made obsolete by the same device: the modern smartphone. In fact, some estimate that the smartphone can replace up to 50 devices, both analog and digital.

All that said, just because newer technology is available doesn’t automatically make older technology undesirable or undesirable. Just ask the many vintage tech collectors who scour eBay for that old VHS copy of Hallowe’en you just shot According to rant on screensome people are willing to pay hundreds or even thousands for certain rare VHS tapes.

And the humble VHS tape is far from the only piece of old technology that is still in high demand in the online marketplace today. Vintage typewriters, vintage cameras, and vintage media players are just a few other examples of devices that are still considered valuable by many collectors.

But another reason to reconsider throwing away old electronics is the impact this type of trash has on the environment. According to the world countsE-waste makes up about 70 percent of our overall toxic waste, and about 85 percent of that e-waste ends up in landfills and incinerators, where it often pollutes the surrounding land, water, and air.

As amazing as it is to see how far we’ve come with technology, it’s worth keeping in mind that some devices we use today may also be outdated in the future. After all, as long as there are people, there will be progress. In turn, there will be extinct technology. Alas, for every device we believe to be at the absolute peak of its mechanical function, there is another technological marvel ahead waiting to replace it.

After looking at these photos of ancient technology, delve into the little-known story of who invented the Internet. Then take a look at the world’s oldest computer and its fascinating origins.

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