1 or 22
floppy disk
First introduced to the computing world in the 1970s, floppy disks were once considered an innovative computer storage device. However, floppy disks could only hold 1.44 megabytes, so CDs became popular in the 1990s. At least the floppy still exists as a persistent “save” icon.Doug Wilson/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
2 or 22
a magnetic tape
Cassette tapes were first developed by Philips in the early 1960s. The cassette tape was revolutionary at the time, allowing users to record their own music and listen to it on the go. The invention of the portable Walkman in 1979 simply improved the user experience.
But over time, the rise of CDs eclipsed tape. Although the Walkman was quick to release CD players in the 1980s, it was only a matter of time before the rise of digital music downloads and more advanced media players also made the Walkman obsolete.
Fryderyk Gabowicz/Picture Union via Getty Images
3 or 22
Disposable Camera
Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, disposable cameras were a mainstay for vacationers (and anyone who couldn’t afford a quality camera). Now, thanks to modern smartphones, many of us don’t have to worry about throwing a camera away after only using it once.Gideon Mendel/Corbis for Getty Images
4 or 22
landline telephone
Lined telephones date back to the late 19th century, and landlines were an important device for many people in the United States for decades. However, they have been slowly phased out by mobile phones. According to the AARP, as of June 2020, only 2.3% of households had only a landline without cell service.William Gottlieb/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
5 or 22
laser disc
In 1978, the innovative LaserDisc was born. As a 12-inch video disc format, LaserDisc provided higher quality picture and sound than other video tapes of the era. It failed to enter the mainstream due to its high cost, but it is considered a precursor to DVD.Scott Bill/laughingsquid/Flickr
6 or 22
answering machine
Before voicemail, you needed a separate gadget to record missed calls on your landline when you weren’t home. Enter the answering machine, whose quaint miniature cassettes hold your messages. Kitsya/Wikimedia Commons
7 or 22
pager
One communication solution to the limitations of landlines is the humble pager. Popular in the 1990s, this device lets you see the phone number of someone trying to contact you. If you can’t make a timely call to a landline, you can find the nearest payphone to call back that number.jjandames/Flickr
8 or 22
Standalone GPS unit
Beginning in the late 1980s, stand-alone GPS units have helped many drivers reach their final destination without having to consult a paper map. But now that our smartphones can easily do this too—some cars even have built-in GPS systems—standalone devices are slowly disappearing.mpd01605/Flickr
9 or 22
iPod
In 2001, Apple revolutionized MP3 players with the release of the first iPod. The iPod, with its 5 GB capacity, allowed users to store up to 1,000 songs — an astonishing feat at the time. But today, we have more space on our smartphones.Samantha Sheen/AFP via Getty Images
10 or 22
online
Many of us also hear the deafening sound that accompanies when we hear the word “dial.” Fortunately, companies started offering broadband connectivity options in the early 2000s, and we no longer had to choose between using the phone or the Internet.Roseland/Getty Images
11 or 22
projector
Whether in a classroom or meeting room, overhead projectors work their magic on drop-down projector screens by displaying images and text on a transparent background. Now, there are countless better, smaller, and more reliable digital options for the job. Wikimedia Commons
12 or 22
car phone
The car phone was one of the most coveted status symbols of the 1980s and early 1990s. In the hands of musicians, actors and other wealthy drivers, the device was actually once more popular than a regular cell phone. But as wireless phones became lighter, by the early 2000s, car phones gradually fell into obscurity.Ari Mintz/Newsday RM via Getty Images
13 or 22
Coin Phone
Once upon a time, if you had to call while out and about, you needed to find a payphone and some change. Phone booths still exist today, but with the rise of cell phones, they have become less common.Viviane Moos/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images
14 or 22
earphone
Today, entertainment screens appear on airline seatbacks. But starting in the 1970s, some airplane phones took up that space. With Airfone, passengers can make air-to-ground calls. During the 9/11 terrorist attacks, some passengers on hijacked planes were able to use the technology to make final calls to their loved ones. However, Airfone would eventually disappear in the late 2000s.Mike Kuniawski/Wikimedia Commons
15 or 22
dot matrix printer
Once the mainstay of many offices in the 1970s and 1980s, dot-matrix printers were eventually replaced by more modern inkjet and laser printers.steverhode/Flickr
16 or 22
videotape
Home video system (VHS) tapes and the video recorder (VCR) that played them arrived in the United States in 1977 and quickly became a staple of home entertainment. However, by 2004, DVD sales outsold them by a ratio of 40 to 1. Washington post They even wrote an obituary for their “death” a year later. Wikimedia Commons
17 or 22
cathode ray tube television
Cathode ray tube televisions were the mainstay of television for decades, starting in the 1920s. That is, until modern LCD and plasma TVs took over in the early 2000s.Brandt Luke Zorn/Solomon203/Wikimedia Commons (montage illustration)
18 or 22
fax machine
In the 1980s and 1990s, fax machines were common in many businesses. Back then, it was a very efficient way to copy documents in one location and print them in another. However, it was eventually replaced by the convenience of email.About/Flickr
19 or 22
Segway
The Segway Personal Transporter is a two-wheeled, self-balancing vehicle that became popular with tourists and law enforcement officers in the 2000s and 2010s. But the Segway was never popular with the public, and production officially ceased in 2020.Ricardo Funari/Brazil Photos/LightRocket via Getty Images
20 or 22
typewriter
Perhaps one of the most famous of old technologies, the typewriter conjures images of literary icons pounding a keyboard. Throughout the 20th century, innovators worked tirelessly to improve it, ultimately making it electric and portable. But the rise of the laptop eventually drove many people off typewriters entirely. By 2011, one of the last manual typewriter factories in the world was closed in India.George Karger/Getty Images
21 or 22
Pocket PC
A PDA is a personal digital assistant device used to store contact information, calendars, important documents, and more. Popular in the 1990s and early 2000s, this once-booming technology was arguably the precursor to the modern smartphone.NZeemin/Wikimedia Commons
22 or 22
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