Everything Old is New Again
Even when the old is relatively new
Remember when the music source was an external item? Throwback to days not so long ago when vinyl records, CDs, and cassette tapes, and how they are making a comeback. Now the things we used to play for music are often used as trendy ways to decorate and achieve the right vibe.
We went on a short road trip to change scenery for a bit. One of my daughters woke up early, found the blu-ray player, and was watching a DVD by the time we woke up. The irony of watching the movie Hackers and being excited about using old technology. She is overjoyed at the thought of something new.
“Mommy, I get to hit the button and the thing goes ‘zuuup’, (her word for opening). I put the disc in and hit the button again and the thingy plays.”
Funny, how old things become new. In the case of technology, this happens quickly. Only 8% of US households owned a personal computer in 1984, but today around 2.65 billion people in the world use social media, according to Leftronic.
Vintage is the trendy term for old things that have found their way back into popularity. What else has become new again?
Old Games Become New
Can you remember Nintendo, Atari, Playstation, or Wii? Some of the old game consoles are sought after for nostalgia. You’d probably be thinking about Xbox Series X or Play Station 5 for current gaming trends, but a smile might creep across your face as you watch kids play on the gaming stations you grew up playing on yourself.
We found a new release of the old Atari gaming system. Our kids giggled as they enjoyed playing Space Invaders and laughed harder, thinking that they played the same game we used to play. Perhaps you remember your favorite shoot ‘em-up games or have fond memories of going to the arcade to play pinball, Pac-Man, or your favorite race car game. Enjoy the nostalgia of fun memories.
Listening Preferences Change
The way we listen to music has changed dramatically over time. Not too long ago a Discman, Walkman, or MP3 player were popular options. You might remember downloading your favorite playlist before strapping an iPod to your arm and going for a run or going to the gym. You still see people enjoying their music, but no one has to grab a cd or cassette to have their favorite selections at their fingertips.
As long as music could be played while we are on the go, we weren’t all that concerned about the sound quality. And in the days of the boombox, we liked it loud and many times on our shoulders as we walked down the street. Modern choices may include YouTube, Spotify, Sirius, or iTunes, or asking Alexa to play the music we want to hear. Why carry anything with you when it’s easy to stream from your pocket or ask Alexa to set the mood with any music genre you desire? Cassettes and vinyl records that used to play music now adorn walls as decorations to create an atmosphere and a visual vibe.
Talk in Style
Payphones and phone booths are sought after to create a vintage old-school trendy feel in individual businesses, or in man caves seeking a particular style. Gone are the days of them being functional, but they command a pretty penny as retro models. The visual vibe continues with the kind of phone you use. The old portable car phone was released in the 1980s, by the late ’80s and into the early ’90s, we had a portable cell phone. The first phone with features came out around 2000.
The phone you pull out of your pocket also says something about you. You can probably find an old analog phone with a splash of color at a pawn shop, but remove the latest iPhone release out of your pocket and someone is likely to notice. How up-to-date you are comes, to a certain degree, with the technology you use.
Technology Changes Quickly
Technology develops rapidly, and if we’re to stay relevant we’ve got to keep up with technology as it improves. You can be as off the grid as it matches your desires with old technology. If the latest and greatest technology is a status symbol, it comes with a choice to update as technology changes.
You don’t have to be the first person to own the newest release, but as older forms lose their edge, it may be a good idea to upgrade, especially if the price has lowered. Otherwise, you can enjoy old technology, and it’s likely to become new again in some form. Even vintage forms of technology have a unique trendy upswing, and many eventually command a cost that rivals newer versions. Whatever kind of technology you use is likely going to become new again, and when it does, you’ll have fun stories to tell and share. Perhaps you already have a few stories about how your use of technology has changed.
