12 Tech Gadgets That Will Fade with Baby Boomers

Every generation has its signature tech – a set of technological gadgets that define the lifestyle and culture of a particular period. For baby boomers, these signature tech products included pagers, VHS players, cell phones, etc.

As the current generation embraces sleeker and more technologically advanced products, the following 12 tech gadgets will eventually fade with baby boomers.

Landline Telephones

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Landline telephones were the biggest technological innovation during the baby boomer era that transformed communication and connectivity. These fixed-line communication devices connected people in their homes to the outside world.

It was so popular that it became a central fixture in homes across the United States, positioning itself as an inseparable part of the then-domestic life. While landline telephones were incredibly useful, they eventually became obsolete with the emergence of smartphones and VoIP services.

Since the younger generation prefers portability and multi-functionality, landline telephones will fade with baby boomers.     

Video Home System (VHS) Tape

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VHS tapes were one of the most popular formats for home video playback. They’ve dominated the home movie market for nearly two decades. Families across the globe used to gather around their television sets to watch their favorite movies and home videos on these tapes.

Their popularity declined in 1997 with the introduction of DVDs, followed by other technologically advanced alternatives. Many have already forgotten VHS tapes, which will eventually fade in history with baby boomers.  

Pagers

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Before email and phone texting existed, baby boomers relied on pagers. It was a portable mini radio frequency device that facilitated instant human communication. The initial pagers supported text-only interaction, and the later releases enabled audio messages.

Pagers became incredibly popular in the 1980s and transformed into a status symbol for many.  Despite easing communication, they lost relevance to mobile phones. It won’t be surprising if the younger and upcoming generations entirely forget it.   

Walkman

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You may come across the Sony Walkman if you explore vintage collections online. It was an upgraded version of cassette players that was portable, lightweight, and convenient for music lovers. For baby boomers, Walkman was a cultural icon that enabled them to create personal audio experiences like never before.

These battery-powered audio gadgets served the dual purpose of a functional tech gadget and a style statement. However, they lost the relevancy battle to Discman and MiniDisc players. They finally became obsolete with emerging iPods and iPhones.  

Slide Projectors

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Baby boomers loved using slide projectors for personal and professional purposes. These devices projected photographic slides onto screens. Their bright, crisp image display made them the go-to choice for storytelling or teaching.

While they were popular in offices for official presentations and parties for sharing family’s special moments, the rise of digital projectors and photo-sharing platforms made them irrelevant. The declining usage of slide projectors resulted in stopping its production by many big brands like Kodak. 

Compact Discs (CDs

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CDs were the first commercially available tech gadget that featured pre recorded digital audio content. Baby boomers preferred CDs because they offered better sound quality compared to vinyl records and cassette tapes.

It became one of the most preferred physical formats for collecting and owning music albums over time, with sales skyrocketing between 1989 and 2002. CDs started losing ground with the launch of more technologically evolved alternatives like iPods. The further rise of MP3 players and streaming services finally put an end to this device.   

Polaroid Camera

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Polaroid cameras will always hold a special place in baby boomers’ hearts because they enabled them to capture their life’s most precious moments. These cameras provided instant photo printing, converting capture-worthy moments into tangible memories within seconds.

Baby boomers didn’t use Polaroid cameras regularly but reserved their usage for occasions like weddings, festivals, family reunions, etc. Unfortunately, smartphones’ release took over Polaroid cameras’ popularity, reducing them to mere vintage products.  

Floppy Disks

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Floppy disks were a revolutionary tech product for most baby boomers as they could store data and be used to view or download the same onto another device. It was the first easy way to transfer files. It was popular across the globe because of the convenience it offered.

However, floppy disks became obsolete with new product launches like USB thumb drives and cloud storage. This phenomenal gadget of the bygone era will fade with baby boomers. 

Fax Machines

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If you’re a baby boomer, you must have seen fax machines in almost every office during your work years. These were the first-of-its-kind machines that enabled instant transmission of scanned documents over telephone lines.

Fax machines sent contracts, letters, and other paperwork without relying on postal service. Despite being useful, fax machines had plenty of downsides, such as excess paper consumption, expensive, etc. They eventually faced obsolescence with the introduction of email, cloud services, and digital document-signing tools. 

Cell Phones

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Before smartphones came into existence, the mobile phone market was dominated by cell phones. Baby boomers used this device for essential communication functions, like texting and calling.

Some cell phones also had additional functionalities of alarm clocks, calculators, and simple games. They bridged the communication gap during the baby boomers era, but they’ve experienced extinction with the launch of smartphones like the iPhone.   

Camcorders

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Camcorders were one of baby boomers’ most favorite gadgets as they allowed them to capture memories in motion. They used it to record family events, vacations, milestones, etc., a feature that cameras didn’t provide.

The original camcorder has received numerous upgrades, giving you the pocket-size camcorder people have today. However, it will fade with baby boomers because younger generations prefer capturing HD videos from their smartphones and other sleek devices. 

Handheld Translators

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Handheld translators were popular among baby boomers, especially during their travel to foreign locations. These pocket-sized devices translated spoken/typed words into multiple languages, removing communication barriers between people from different cultures.

The popularity of handheld translators has already plummeted as younger generations rely on smartphone features like Google Translate for free and instant translation. Google Install has over 1 billion installs, so you can rest assured that handheld translators will fade with baby boomers. 

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