“Technology has become as ubiquitous as the air we breathe, so we are no longer conscious of its presence.” – Godfrey Reggio
True enough, from the moment we wake up, till when we go to bed, we use gadgets so regularly that we hardly even notice that. Even when we are asleep, there are gadgets at work, like there are clocks ticking away to wake ups up at the right time in the morning. With the progress of science, newer gadgets replace older ones. There are several gadgets that are out of use, and almost on the verge of obliteration, now. But, there are also some outdated gadgets that are still in use. Let’s take a look at 10 Outdated Gadgets Still in Use, now.
1. Dedicated GPS Device
Though most smartphones are have a GPS functionality, the dedicated GPS system still survives, and for several good reasons. Most people find the in-dash GPS devices or even the portable ones easier to balance on the dash than smart phones. Besides, it may also be a problem if there is a call, when the driver is about to take a turn. On top of it all, their manufacturers also tend to update the maps.
2. Vinyl LPs
With CDs, DVDs and other modern devices that can record music, the large black discs, i.e. the vinyl LPs should not have survived. But, instead, they have remained in the market. Music lovers who like a classic touch cling to the LPs. While gramophones are still available, the modern digital turntables that convert music on the LPs to digital files, make sure vinyl LPs are outdated gadgets still in use.
3. Typewriter
We could say that typewriters are a combination of the modern keyboard of a computer and the printer, as this device can directly print on the paper, directly, what needs to be printed on paper. A more advanced version is the series by Brother, which uses electricity. While it doesn’t allow saving documents for editing or reproduction, it is still used, especially by small enterprises, individuals, etc.
4. Portable Media Player
Everyone uses the all-in-one cell phone as a portable media player. Why, then, are dedicated media players available? They generally have more memory than what can be committed to music on a phone which has other uses. Some portable media players can be plugged to a TV or other devices. Most importantly, the phone battery is saved for other tasks by the separate portable media players.
5. Landline Telephone
People have cell-phones to attend calls – or reject them – at any time and place, landline phones are still important, not only because sometimes, cell reception is not easy to get, especially in some inside house and atop tall buildings, but also because it offers a sense of reliability to people when an establishment offers a permanent number. Rotary phones, however, are just antique collectibles.
6. Answering Machines
With landlines still surviving as the outdated gadgets still in use, answering machines are pretty much indispensable. The dedicated answering machines perform the same task as the voicemail of modern cell phones do, except they are separately installed, to record messages. The drill is the same – customized greetings urging the caller to leave a message that can be played back later.
7. Analogue Watches and Clocks
As with most portable devices, cell phones seem to be the perfect replacement for wrist watches and clocks, as they show time and even perform the task of alarm clocks. But, to be honest, cell phones haven’t yet matched the convenience of real clocks and watches. While, with watches, the knowledge about time is just of twist of the wrist away, big clocks remind us of the ticking time.
8. Digital Camera/Camcorder
Smartphones or other high end phones come with an in-built camera that can capture high-quality photographs. These can also double as camcorders and shoot videos in High Definition. For casual uses, like taking a selfie or recording a quick video. But, professional use, mobile phone cannot beat a Digital SLR camera, or a digital camcorder, which are outdated gadgets still in use, and largely so.
9. Non-Smart Mobile Phones
Everyone has a cell phone, now, even kids, and no one wants anything other than smart phones. But, the non-smart cell phones are not out of use, yet. They are mainly used by elderly people who are yet to get the hang of smartphones. People who do not want to be bugged by technology at all times also prefer the old phones which can be used for calling, messaging, or at best, taking snaps.
10. Local Storage Device
The cloud storage system acts like a virtual storage device, and can store a back of files. Clouds make it possible to access data at any time, from anywhere. If this isn’t enough, another compelling reason to use cloud storage instead of local storage device is that it can be lost or even damaged. However, poor net connectivity and chances of getting hacked ensure that local storage devices are still in use.
There are plenty of other outdated gadgets still in use, today. For instance, there are the fax machines which scream 80s, but are still unbeaten because of their reliability in case of digital signature. Then, there are the portable DVD/VCR players that are still used at homes to watch a film on the big television screen. It might be hard to believe, but, even the laptops are considered outdated, what with the advent of tablets, though their main problem is the virtual keyboard, and small screen size compared to laptops, or even desk top. There are many more, and though these are old and pretty much replaceable, they are still in existence as their modern versions, mostly the tablets and smartphones with internet, are too many things in one, and hence, they cannot perform the tasks with as much efficiency as the dedicate devices do. Will the older devises update themselves and hold on to their place in the market and our lives, or will the modern devices improve and wipe out the older ones? Only time will tell.