Things Babies Born in 2011 Will Never Know

**min0 lee** · 01-07-2011, 08:32 PM

Huffington Post recently put up a story called You're Out: 20 Things That Became Obsolete This Decade. It's a great retrospective on the technology leaps we've made since the new century began, and it got me thinking about the difference today's technology will make in the lives of tomorrow's kids.
I've used some of their ideas and added some of my own to make the list below: Do you think kids born in 2011 will recognize any of the following?

Video tape: Starting this year, the news stories we produce here at Money Talks have all been shot, edited, and distributed to TV stations without ever being on any kind of tape. Not only that, the tape-less broadcast camera we use today offers much higher quality than anything that could have been imagined 10 years ago -- and cost less than the lens on the camera we were using previously.

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

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

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

Movie rental stores: You actually got in your car and drove someplace just to rent a movie?

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

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

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

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

Newspaper classifieds: The days are gone when you have to buy a bunch of newsprint just to see what's for sale.

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

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

Forgotten friends: Remember when an old friend would bring up someone you went to 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 ever known even slightly via Facebook.

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

The evening 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: First records, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your music collection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close as the nearest Internet connection.

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

**vortrit** · 01-07-2011, 08:44 PM

A lot of these things were not even around or popular 30 years ago. This shouldn't come as a big surprise.

**SilentBob187** · 01-07-2011, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

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

I refuse to get a smartphone for this reason

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

I'm collecting old books like a madman now, especially now that we're starting to censor classics like Huck Finn.

Watches: Maybe as quaint jewelry, but the correct time is on your smartphone, which is pretty much always in your hand.
Paper maps: At one time these were available free at every gas station. They're practically obsolete today, and the next generation will probably have to visit a museum to find one.

I prefer wearing a watch to carrying a phone around.

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

Nobody will miss porn on a 14.4 modem...NO ONE.

CDs: First records, then 8-track, then cassette, then CDs -- replacing your music collection used to be an expensive pastime. Now it's cheap(er) and as close as the nearest Internet connection.

I prefer CDs to rhapsody/itunes. There's just something about holding a physical copy of a really great album. Second to going to a concert to support a good artist, this is the next best thing.

Call me old fashioned but I really prefer the previous decades. Get off my lawn.

--------------

Other things that they'll never experience:

1) How to get an old Nintendo cartridge to work. Addendum: how only YOU could get YOUR Nintendo to play said cartridge.

2) Pre-wiki, honest to goodness RESEARCH for classes, assignments.

3) Playing outside

4) Those little green army men. Addendum: the sound they make when you set them on fire and let the molten plastic drip.

**lnvanry** · 01-07-2011, 08:56 PM

**lnvanry** · 01-07-2011, 08:56 PM

**ZECH** · 01-07-2011, 09:56 PM

Originally Posted by SilentBob187

3) Playing outside

4) Those little green army men. Addendum: the sound they make when you set them on fire and let the molten plastic drip.

Man, this is all I had growing up. How I wish my kids could experience this and know what it's like without all the crap they have.

**Curt James** · 01-07-2011, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by SilentBob187

4) Those little green army men. Addendum: the sound they make when you set them on fire and let the molten plastic drip.

I picked up the little red firefighters. Thought they were Army men when I saw them at a dollar store and then saw there were no weapons! lulz

Purchased them for the prize box at school.

**vortrit** · 01-07-2011, 11:12 PM

Best toy ever!

**Curt James** · 01-07-2011, 11:17 PM

And doubles as a weapon!

**maniclion** · 01-08-2011, 02:46 AM

Originally Posted by vortrit

Best toy ever!

Used to toss them up as high as we could and run, no Xbox can simulate that adrenaline rush....

**Nightowl** · 01-08-2011, 06:37 AM

I remember the 8 tracks, this is a soooo sad

throwing age in your face and then some

oh well, the idea of the travel agent was a strange one to think it is leaving...I wonder if it isn't just the airlines sacking them, and taking it to their level of additional revenue gains. This clears the middle man and the commission...who knows.

I don't agree with the newspapers and the mags being all gone forming the internet or digital world...get old and then tell me! ISP, Electrical, font adjustments and so forth. Won't happen in my life time

**DOMS** · 01-08-2011, 06:40 AM

My thoughts:

Originally Posted by min0 lee

Travel agents: This will be more a concierge-type position for the well-to-do and special events.

The separation of work and home: There will be clauses in contracts to cover this.

Books, magazines, and newspapers: Not entirely. For one simple fact: when all your batteries are dead, you can still read a book or magazine. Newspapers are dead though.

Movie rental stores: You can add cable companies and broadcast television to this. The idea that you can only watch, or record, shows on certain days of the week and at certain times is so 20th century. Instead, you'll get release dates and times after which you can get it on demand. Side note, I just dropped my satellite/tv provider.

Watches: Not entirely true. For people whom time is important, they'll use a watch. Even if battery power for mobile phones/devices triples, it still won't come close to the batter life of a watch (or better yet, one that winds).

Wired phones: I'm ditching mine in 1 week for the first time ever.

Long distance: Thank god.

Forgotten friends: I'd like to think that people who have grown up with the Internet and social networking sites will be a bit more judicious in handing out their information. However, I'm not going to hold my breath.

Forgotten anything else: Yeah, but we have that now and people still continue to argue. "Hey, that you got that on Wikipedia, so it doesn't count!"

**maniclion** · 01-08-2011, 01:43 PM

Haven't had a landline in years...

**min0 lee** · 01-08-2011, 01:49 PM

Originally Posted by maniclion

Haven't had a landline in years...

I only use it now because it's part of the cable package.

**DOMS** · 01-08-2011, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

I only use it now because it's part of the cable package.

I told DirectTV that I was canceling my service. They did everything they could to keep my account. $200 credit? Here! Free DVR? Here! I ultimately told them I was going to turn off my account no matter what.

I felt bad for the lady on the phone. She was so desperate. It reminded me of David Chappelle, "I'll suck your dick!"

**min0 lee** · 01-08-2011, 01:54 PM

They are losing a lot of customers.

**vortrit** · 01-08-2011, 01:57 PM

What's this "land line" you speak of?

**min0 lee** · 01-08-2011, 02:06 PM

**DOMS** · 01-08-2011, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by min0 lee

They are losing a lot of customers.

Satellite and cable.

DirectTV wasn't nearly as bad as Cable One. Cable One had advertisements that you had to click past as you were scrolling through the channel listings. I was paying $120/month and I wasn't getting less than half the stations.

Plus, who wants to be told when to watch anything. We've had a taste of on demand and we want more.

Part of the problem is the actual stations. Now they're putting the credits into the shows' intros so that they can squeeze in another commercial. And they have pops ups in a show at least once between commercials that take up a third of the screen. They're not just "trying to run a business", they're trying to squeeze out every last penny that they can. And they act surprised that people are watching less. "Were shitting all over you! Why are you leaving?"

**GearsMcGilf** · 01-09-2011, 08:15 PM

LOL. I haven't used a land line in years either. My mum is 64 and still won't use a phone without a cord. She's convinced somewhere, someone will be listening to convos about her latest trip to the supermarket or hair appointment. lol

**SilentBob187** · 01-09-2011, 08:42 PM

Originally Posted by GearsMcGilf

She's convinced somewhere, someone will be listening to convos about her latest trip to the supermarket or hair appointment. lol

Not to mention her clandestine meetings at Golden Corral with some young buck with a coupon.

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