Over the years, we have witnessed new technology entering our homes and lives, gradually changing our habits, traditions, and lifestyles. With the rise of new technology, many old objects, some very cherished too, have been replaced. In a few years, these things might become totally obsolete and the next generation might not even see these once-ubiquitous things.
Read to know 13 things that we will never see again in 10 years.
Physical Maps And Standalone GPS Devices
Remember when you’d unfold massive, inconvenient paper maps to plan a road trip or find a street in a new city? Or rent a car with standalone GPS devices like Tom Tom? Modern smartphones with pre-installed apps like Google Maps, Waze, and Apple Maps have made physical maps and standalone GPS devices redundant. With free, real-time navigation on mobile phones, most commuters, taxi drivers, and even holiday-makers consult these nearly marking the end of the era for physical maps and standalone GPS devices.
Traditional TV Remotes
Traditional TV remotes, with their clunky buttons and frequent need for new batteries, are being replaced by smart remotes and apps. Voice-controlled devices like Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and even gesture-based controls are the future. The days of looking around to find your lost remote under the couch or behind the bed will soon be over.
Physical Checkbooks And Paper Receipts
Gone are the days when you had to carry a physical checkbook to the bank to withdraw money or needed it to pay someone money. The rise of digital banking and e-receipts means physical checkbooks and paper receipts are on their way out. Most people now pay bills online or use apps like Venmo and PayPal for transactions. Retailers increasingly offer email or app-based receipts, making paper slips a thing of the past.
Traditional Door Locks
Forgetting your keys or losing them might soon be an obsolete problem. Physical door locks are being replaced by smart or biometric locks that can be opened with a smartphone or fingerprint. These devices offer enhanced security and convenience, especially for renters and homeowners who can manage access remotely.
Key Fobs
Much like door locks, physical keys are also fading away. Keyless car entry systems and digital keycards are becoming the norm in vehicles and buildings alike. Tesla even offers a smartphone app to unlock and start its cars. In the near future, carrying a bulky set of keys will seem old-fashioned and become extinct.
USB Sticks And Hard Drives
Cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, and iCloud are gradually replacing USB sticks and external hard drives. These cloud platforms offer secure, remote access to files without the risk of losing or damaging physical devices. While USB drives are still used today, their relevance is dwindling as internet speeds and storage capabilities improve.
Traditional Games
The gaming world has shifted dramatically in recent years, moving from physical board games like Monopoly and Scrabble and gaming consoles like the PlayStation and Xbox to online platforms. Today’s younger generations are interested in online gaming experiences. Services like Xbox Game Pass and NVIDIA GeForce Now already allow players to stream games directly to their devices without requiring a console. Platforms and games like Roblox and Pokémon GO allow users to create and explore virtual worlds. With the rapid growth of VR and AR, the future of gaming may shift entirely to the cloud, making physical board games and hardware consoles unnecessary.
Credit Cards With Magnetic Stripes
As payment systems become more advanced, traditional magnetic-stripe credit cards will disappear. Chip-enabled cards, contactless payments, and digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay are more secure and convenient. As per Mastercard, some regions like Europe are already phasing out chip cards with magnetic stripes while the banks in the US will stop issuing them starting in 2027.
Portable Music Players
Remember carrying around a Walkman, Discman, or even the first-generation iPod? Portable music players were revolutionary in their time, allowing users to enjoy music on the go. Today, smartphones offering music streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube Music have made music players obsolete. With these apps providing millions of songs at our fingertips, standalone MP3 players have become unnecessary for most people.
Cable TV Subscriptions
Streaming platforms are slowly killing traditional cable TV. Apart from Netflix and Prime Video, services like YouTube TV, Hulu Live, and Peacock offer customizable, on-demand options that are cheaper and more convenient than cable bundles. As more consumers cut the cord, cable subscriptions could become a thing of the past.
Standalone Calculators
With smartphones featuring built-in calculators, the demand for standalone calculators is nearly extinct. Students and professionals alike rely on their phones or advanced software for math-related tasks. Only a few specific fields, like engineering or accounting, still require dedicated calculators.
Chargers With Cables
Those tangled cords not only take up space in your drawers but are also inconvenient. Wireless charging pads and magnetic chargers are set to replace cable-based chargers in the near future. Many smartphones and other devices already support wireless charging, offering convenience and reducing cable clutter. In 10 years, those tangled cords in your drawer may become a relic of the past.
Physical Newspapers And Magazines
The digital revolution has made physical newspapers and magazines nearly obsolete. With online news platforms, e-books, and apps providing instant access to information, fewer people are subscribing to printed publications. Many media outlets are transitioning to digital-first strategies, signaling the end of traditional print media.
10 Technology Predictions That Sounded Nuts—But Are Now True Stories
While some ideas remain stuck in science fiction, many predictions have surprisingly come true, and AI, which was once reserved for the science laboratory or movie screens has found its way into everyday human life. With machines changing the way we live to AI making decisions in a human capacity has turned the fiction of AI into reality.
Read on to learn the 10 craziest AI predictions that came true.
12 AI Scams That Trick Even the Most Intelligent People
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing our world positively, but there are growing concerns about AI being used to dupe people. According to a survey, 69% of people believe that criminals are more advanced at using AI to carry out financial fraud than banks are at using AI to prevent fraud. This article lists 12 common AI scams used to rob people of their money. Read here.
