17 Everyday Objects That Used to Be Considered ‘High Tech’
From the iconic Walkman to the now-obsolete VCR, these everyday objects were once groundbreaking innovations that defined a generation’s tech-savvy lifestyle before being overshadowed by faster, sleeker modern alternatives.
- Alyana Aguja
- 5 min read
Formerly the epitome of innovation, mundane items such as the VCR, Walkman, and floppy disk were revolutionary game-changers that transformed the way we engaged with technology during the 20th century. With time, these devices were overtaken by newer, smaller, and more functional versions, which usually ended up being nostalgic reminders of a bygone tech era. This journey captures how rapidly technology evolves, rendering once-acclaimed inventions obsolete reminders of our modern digital era.
1. VCR (Video Cassette Recorder)
Leonard Reese from Unsplash
The VCRs revolutionized home entertainment in the 1980s. People could record television shows and watch movies at home. It was something everybody wanted, and having it made your friends jealous. VCRs are no longer needed nowadays, as streaming devices and digital media have replaced them.
2. Floppy Disk
Fredy Jacob from Unsplash
As the primary method to move data and save files, floppy disks were state-of-the-art during the 1980s and early 1990s. With a storage capacity of 1.44 MB, they were considered miraculous compared to previous options such as punch cards. Today, they look like relics from the past, replaced by USB drives, cloud storage, and large-capacity hard drives.
3. Rotary Phone
Luke Southern from Unsplash
When the rotary phone debuted, it was a groundbreaking development over the previous telegraphs and party lines. It provided a personal, private means of placing phone calls, a luxury for many households. Today, its slow dialing and analog format render it an antique, dwarfed by smartphones offering many advanced features.
4. Walkman
Florian Schmetz from Unsplash
The Sony Walkman was the height of personal music technology in the 1970s and 1980s. It allowed users to listen to music while on the move using cassette tapes. It symbolized youth culture and freedom, particularly when portable headphones emerged. Nowadays, however, it’s been overshadowed by smartphones and digital music players.
5. Pager
Image from Business Standard
During the 1980s and 1990s, pagers were the be-all and end-all of communication, particularly for physicians, emergency responders, and business executives. They enabled individuals to send and receive brief messages without being attached to a phone. With the advent of cell phones and instant messaging, pagers are now essentially obsolete.
6. CRT Television
Miguel Alcântara from Unsplash
Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) televisions were the gold standard in television watching for decades, providing big screens for pennies on the dollar compared to previous technology. They were heavy and cumbersome, but the crisp picture made them a living room focal point worldwide. With the progression of flat-screen TVs and streaming, CRTs have vanished.
7. Slide Projector
Nathan Anderson from Unsplash
Prior to digital photo frames and PowerPoint presentations, the slide projector was the most popular device for sharing photographs. Individuals would insert photographic slides into a carousel and project them onto a screen for family reunions or business meetings. Nowadays, digital slideshows and web galleries have replaced the traditional slide projector.
8. Fax Machine
engin akyurt from Unsplash
In the 1990s, fax machines were crucial for every business when it came to receiving and sending important documents via phone lines. The fact that a document could be sent in a few minutes revolutionized communication. Today, email, PDFs, and cloud storage have reduced fax machines to almost nothing.
9. Polaroid Camera
Patrick from Unsplash
Polaroid cameras offered instant prints of photographs, a technological wonder of the 1970s and 1980s. They were particularly favored for parties and events where individuals could immediately grasp memories. With the advent of digital photography and smartphones, the appeal of instant prints has been replaced by high-resolution digital photos.
10. Typewriter
Florian Klauer from Unsplash
Typewriters were once a must-have tool for writers, journalists, and office workers. They were cleaner and more efficient than writing by hand. They made standardizing document appearance easier and were a necessary component of the modern workplace during the 20th century. Now, they’re nostalgic souvenirs, displaced by word processors and computers.
11. Car Phone (Analog)
Erwan Hesry from Unsplash
Prior to smartphones, car phones were the cutting-edge means of communicating on the move, particularly for businesspeople and professionals. They were wired, cumbersome devices fitted into vehicles and enabled calling from anywhere. Mobile phones soon replaced them with more convenient, portable alternatives.
12. Analog Television
Muhammed ÖÇAL from Unsplash
Prior to digital broadcasting, analog TVs using rabbit-ear antennas were ubiquitous in homes worldwide. Users had to manually change the antennas to receive a clearer image, and channels were limited. Those ancient analog sets have been replaced with digital and cable television.
13. Tamagotchi
COSMOH LOVE from Unsplash
Tamagotchis were the trendy virtual pets of the 1990s that everyone had on hand. The handheld device let people “feed,” “play with,” and “nurse” a virtual pet, and it was a tremendous fad. Tamagotchis are now a bygone memory, overshadowed by smartphones with much more engaging virtual activities.
14. Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)
Image from Wikipedia
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, PDAs such as the Palm Pilot were high-tech devices, providing address books, calendars, and note-taking. They were an initial foray into personal organizer tools and were regarded as a business necessity. Today, smartphones have entirely displaced PDAs with much more sophisticated capabilities.
15. Laserdisc
Image from Wikipedia
Before DVDs and Blu-rays, Laserdisc was the cutting-edge home movie-watching format with much improved picture and sound quality compared to VHS tapes. Due to their size and high cost, Laserdiscs never gained acceptance with mass audiences but were favored by film buffs. DVDs and digital media services made Laserdiscs obsolete.
16. Home Security Systems (Analog)
Possessed Photography from Unsplash
In the 1990s, clunky cameras, tape recorders, and alarm systems in analog home security systems were the height of personal safety technology. The feeling of security these systems gave to many homeowners was revolutionary. Now, smart security systems with cloud storage, motion sensors, and mobile alerts have greatly replaced the old setups.
17. Betamax
JC Gellidon from Unsplash
In the early history of videotape formats, Betamax was Sony’s response to the VHS tape. With a marginally improved picture and more compact design, it was high-tech when it was initially released in the mid-1970s. However, it lost the format war to VHS, which provided longer playback time and higher affordability.