10 Pieces of Technology That Will Soon Be Extinct

There are many pieces of technology that are essentially extinct. People may have them gathering dust in basements and attics, but you'll never find them in a modern shop. While the likes of VHS, floppy discs, and Walkman’s have faded away, what’s next? That’s what we wanted to look at here. These are pieces of technology that are either obsolete and on their way out, or soon will be. Let's find out what they are!

1. Fax Machines

Yes, fax machines are still used in many offices despite many other pieces of technology being better at their tasks. They were revolutionary in the 1980s but are desperately clinging on the relevance, and it’s clear their days are numbered. Able to transmit data over phone lines, they were an incredible piece of technology when first launched. But the process of scanning, dialing, and waiting for the fax to go through has become cumbersome. Any modern office now uses other methods such as email, cloud sharing, or secure document software. We started with the fax machine as it could well be the first one on the list to go extinct.

2. Landline Phones

It's funny how technology changes, as once upon a line, landline phones became a vital part of any household. If you didn't have one, there was no way that people could contact you quickly until cell phones became more widespread and accessible. These days, they have become outdated. Having a hardline connection has its benefits but with mobile phones and Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) services becoming more reliable, there isn’t a need for one. Quite a few older houses still have them, but many people don’t bother getting one anymore. It’s hard to see any of the newer generations using them.

3. DVD/CD Players

DVD’s and CD’s were a huge improvement on VHS and cassette tapes respectively. You got to enjoy better quality with a huge reduction in space. Many people still use them today in their cars and entertainment systems, but demand is slowing. The rise in streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify are making them obsolete. You can now have instant access to vast libraries of content without the need for physical storage. But it's not over yet. Increasing prices, lack of physical ownership, and needing to sign up to multiple services are testing people’s patience. Whether it is with DVD’s, CD’s or something else, there could be a renaissance of physical media.

4. Credit Cards

As with many pieces of technology on this list, credit cards have revolutionized the way people live. When they came out, using them seemed very strange, and that only increased with the advent of contactless payments. How does money travel through the air? While making payments this way won’t change anytime soon, how we make these payments is changing. Digital payments methods such as mobile wallets and smart watches are becoming increasingly popular. Some people will still carry cards as a backup, but soon they may become obsolete.

5. Remote Controls

It seems crazy to some people that there used to be a time where you’d have to physically get up to change the TV channel. Thankfully at that time, there were only a handful of channels to choose from, so it didn’t take too long. But the old remote control is now getting limited in its use. Voice-activated assistants can now be used, and people can also control technology on their phones. Added to that, many people have now swapped their remote controls with a games console controller.

6. Incandescent Light Bulbs

It took a long-time for Thoams Edison to perfect (but not invent) the incandescent light bulb. Once he did, it allowed people to enjoy a lighting system that was much more reliable that anything that had gone before it. However, every piece of technology gets phased out by something better, and that's true of this lightbulb. LEDs consume much less energy and have longer lifespans. It's easy to see a near future when incandescent light bulbs stop being sold.

7. Analog Radios

Analog radios rely on AM and FM frequencies to work, along with an antenna. Mobile phones used to have this technology, but they have now moved to being purely digital. And the same could be said for our cars. Digital radio is more convenient as they offerr better sound quality, more stations, and much features, such as song information. There is a decline of traditional radio, and you can see how broadcasters may opt to stop transmitting in AM and FM in the future to cut costs.

8. Standalone GPS Devices

We used to love standalone GPS devices. Those little satellite navigation boxes that we used to put in our cars. There were also other GPS devices that you could carry for orienteering that meant you’d never get lost. But they are not needed anymore. There are many apps on our phones that can not only tell us where we are but also give us detailed information about what is around us. Not only that but they are constantly updated with the latest information.

9. Computer Mouse

The computer mouse has been a fundamental tool almost since the first personal computer became available. They are relatively simple devices but made a huge difference in how easy it is to use a computer. These days, we’ve got a wide range of other ways to navigate such as touchscreens, trackpads, and voice control. As this technology evolves, the likes of gesture-based controls and augmented reality could make the computer mouse a thing of the past.

10. Wired Chargers

Wired chargers have become more easier to use than ever with more standardized charging ports and better quality cables. But just as we’ve reached that point, wireless chargers have come along to take their place. Induction technology allows you to charge without using cables. With wireless charging, you don't need to worry about breaking your charging port or forgetting your cable. When wireless becomes more efficient and widely adopted, it could be the end of cables.