The digital lives we lead today have led to a drastic change in the household items people purchase and use daily. We now have tons of useless junk in our homes, just like the following 19 everyday items that are no longer used.
Desktop Computers
Tablets and laptops have all but spelled the end for bulky, box-like desktop computers. They will forever be synonymous with old-school technology, taking an age to load up with their pixelated graphics and clumsy setups. Nowadays, people want their tech to be lightning-fast and take up as little space as possible.
Paper Calendars
Using paper calendars to organize your life is no longer the done thing, as it has also fallen victim to the digitalization of modern life. Phone calendars can be updated from wherever you are in the world and viewed whenever you need a reminder of your weekly plan, which is super handy.
Cable TV
Cable TV is no longer in demand like it used to be, and boy, was it once in demand, with information from Britannica stating that 80% of American households had cable TV in the 90s, compared to just 40% nowadays! This drop is all down to–you guessed it–streaming services.
Printers
Printers are another example of technology that has since become obsolete due to digitalization. With documents now being signed online and school projects handed in digitally, there is no need to have a loud, cumbersome printer in the corner of your home office.
DVD Players
Before streaming services had a chokehold on home media, DVDs were the number one way to watch movies from the comfort of your living room. Of course, they were gloriously unreliable and took up a shelf’s worth of space, but we do kind of miss them in a nostalgic way.
Shredders
Paper shredders used to be a vital gadget to have in the house, as they allowed you to properly dispose of sensitive documents safely with the knowledge that your personal information wasn’t going to be stolen. As most documents are now sent digitally, this problem has now dissipated.
Landline Phones
Before the times when everyone had a mobile phone, landline phones were vital for house-to-house communication. It seemed as though they’d never be phased out, but all good things must come to an end. As The Washington Post suggests, barely a quarter of Americans now use landline phones to make calls.
Fax Machines
It doesn’t take a genius to realize why fax machines have all but disappeared from homes across the US. They’re not only clunky and unreliable, but their one and only job, sending documents from one place to another, has been taken over by email and digital messaging services.
Paper
Everyone used to have at least a scrap of paper on hand, just in case they needed to jot down a phone number or address when speaking on the phone. Nowadays, all necessary information can be stored on phones, making paper obsolete. Environmental awareness also suggests we should cut down on our paper use.
Can Openers
Can openers used to be vital kitchen utensils, with only the expensive canned products having pull tabs on top of the tin. Nowadays, almost every canned product contains a pull tab, rendering the good old-fashioned can opener obsolete. We’re happy with this, as they were super frustrating to use!
Takeout Menus
Just a handful of years ago, it wasn’t uncommon for local takeout restaurants to post their menus through people’s doors to try and drum up a larger client base. However, with the convenience of online ordering, very few people are willing to phone up a restaurant and order directly off the menu these days.
Alarm Clocks
No longer are alarm clocks almost smashed to pieces by their owners after their six o’clock wake-up calls. The smartphone has now assumed this role, offering customized alarm systems, vibrations, and musical ringtones that are far nicer to wake up to!
Incandescent Light Bulbs
A ruling passed in 2022 stated that the once widely-used incandescent light bulb was to be outlawed. They’re now mostly gone, with the legislation being brought in to force a switch to more environmentally friendly and efficient LED bulbs, which CNN predicts saves US customers close to $3 billion on their utility bills.
Hard Drives and USB Sticks
The two main successors to the outdated but fondly remembered floppy disk, hard drive, and USB stick have also reached the end of their lifespans. Although they enjoyed their time at the top, being the best method of transferring data, they have both fallen short compared to the capability of cloud storage.
Ashtrays
Attitudes to smoking have changed considerably in the past four or so decades, with people now fully aware of the health benefits of staying smoke-free. Ashtrays and lighters are no longer commonplace inside people’s homes, and this is all due to the public smoking bans of the ‘90s and ‘00s. It’s for the best.
Sat-Navs
When they first entered public circulation, satellite navigation systems were widely respected, all but condemning the traditional paper map to death. Now, standalone satellite navigation devices have reached their endpoint, as they are either built into cars or being replaced by mobile phone apps.
Typewriters
Before modern computers with their silent keyboards, people had to type on ink-based typewriters. Not only were these typewriters far less accurate and efficient than their modern descendants, but they were also noisy and required a fair amount of physical exertion to use. Good riddance!
Manual Thermostats
Heating your home has never been easier; you no longer have to leave your seat to manually turn up the thermostat, with certain systems allowing you to do it via an app on your phone. With some systems, you can even turn up the thermostat when you’re not in the house, which is bonkers!
Encyclopedias
Finally, once the first port of call for any random information you wanted to know, encyclopedias are no longer required in modern society. Search engines wiped the thick, heavy books out with one swipe, signaling the end for printed factual records such as Encyclopaedia Britannica, which, according to the New York Times, has been part of society since 1768.