For example, buildings and houses more than a hundred years old keep getting more and more rare, and often have an aesthetic that stands out, more ornate or with a particular style that most people can’t afford today or that is not financially convenient etc. But back in the day, that’s how things were built and most people didn’t put much thought into it.
Another example, illustrations for advertisements ( either billboards or magazines). Up until the 60s (declining from the 70s onwards) a lot of ads had hand drawn illustrations, which required a lot of skill and talent to make. Yet people took them for granted, it was the standard quality of illustration for ads.
So the question is, are we currently mass producing something that will be seen in a similar light in a couple of generations? Thoughts?
The relatively low level of plastic in our testicles
laughs in woman
No worries, microplastics are equal opportunity! You can find microplastics at any of your local ovaries today!
Also, now introducing kids microplastics! Don’t want to wait for your microplastics? Simply be born in the current era and we’ll send you kids microplastics absolutely free! That’s a $60 value, absolutely free! Other companies might trick you into buying fast by making that a limited time offer, but we know you’ll love microplastics so much that this is a forever offer!
Microplastics- we’re already inside you!
Desktop computers. I know more people that don’t have access to a full computer now than I did as a kid, with smart phones filling most of that niche for people.
I miss them though, easy to maintinace, upgrade and tinker with. I love listening to old heads talk about early computing too where you were expected to really program for the hardware too.
Old websites or services you just ran at home like email, bultin boards, mumble, etc.
Cars you could work on at home. EVs ironically represent a potential to return us to that time because the extreme tolerances to make high mpg ICE just isn’t there, but most manufactures seem intent to add complexity and black box controllers to prevent that.
This whole " companies now own your vehicle more than you" worries me honestly. I look forward to see EV jailbreaking and DIY repairs flourish even more than phones.
Me too. I mean heck I built an EV in highschool as part of a class (a barely road legal one seated but still). They really do represent an opportunity for BETTER right to repair and home mods.
This is so hard to answer because so many of these things you don’t miss it until it’s gone. I’m going to say physical keyboards. Like, not that physical keyboards will disappear entirely, but I think they will continue to get much, much less common. I think a lot of people will miss the tactile advantage of a good keyboard, though.
One thing I think we’re in for a rebound on is how we deal with batteries. Currently, the paradigm for many devices is that manufacturers put a rechargeable battery in and that’s it. When the battery wears down or breaks, the device is done too. This can’t go on forever. It’s creating too much e-waste, expense, and pollution.
I think the deal that customers are getting from streaming services is probably too good to last, in general. It’s already starting to degrade, with companies all going to start their own streaming platforms with smaller and smaller catalogs. You have to really plan for what you want to see. The rise of exclusive shows really damaged things. Vertical integration like that hurts competition.
Agreed with the keyboards. They’ll probably become a tool specifc for certain professions only.
I see your point with the battery, but I’m not sure if I’m getting it completely. I also agree, it’s wasteful and not environmentally responsible. But by the time a battery needs replacing, the device is obsolete not because it’s worn out but because it’s obsolete, there are much more powerful models our in the market which can handle the much more demanding software. I guess what I’m trying to say it that batteries are far from being the only problem in that whole situation.
I wonder if streaming services will be herded back together in the future. TV is a relatively new thing, and I wonder if what we are seeing is the beginning of a pattern. Perhaps some sort of third party that curates content from several competitors.
The battery issue isn’t just in devices that go obsolete. It is also in devices like bike lights where the original functionality never changes. And even in devices like a smartphone, phone battery life often drops off far before the useful life ends.
Yes, that’s what I’m getting at, the useful life of the device isn’t over but for most people is more convenient to just replace it.
I see a lot of electronics becoming the same form of a black rectangle. I think the design of older electronics will be cherished.
We’re already seeing this one now: physical media
True, there is a lot going into box art for music and videogames which we don’t get when purchasing digital
Sunbathing mornings, cycling/jogging in fresh air, sitting bored happily
Obligatory mention for durable and long lasting products/items and purely mechanical items
Non AI videos/photos/media content organically made with human creativity
I will enjoy those till I die.
I remember when the ability to make AI images based on prompts first became available to the masses. I had tonnes of fun making cool images. Now it feels like those sidewalk vendors with the spray paint galaxy images they do.
They’ve lost whatever it was that made them look special. And now the more absurd and glowing an image is, I don’t marvel at its other worldly nature or the imagination behind its creator. The ‘prettier’ the image is, the more likely it is AI. They all look the same.
It’s so refreshing to see real drawings and photography and paintings, done by hand.
- Good Emails/articles/publications that do not use AI atvall.
- If AI regulations stop the NSFW side of AI, then those.
- LAN multiplayer games.
Minimilitia, SuperTuxkart(Haven’t checked the LAN part, but 2 players can use the same keyboard to play the game, at the same time)
Good e-mails in general! People have forgotten (over never learned) how to properly write and answer mails.
Already feel terrible seeing how this comment misses retro and Arcade games with 2/3 player option offline, or LAN games like CS1.6 or NFS Most Wanted 2005. You kids are from Mini Militia era.
Contemporary cars are mass-produced and have impractically many special and unrepairable parts. They’re a real patchwork of different technologies that will become obsolete when switching to other fuel sources.
Also stamps and cash. Intricate prints meant to dissuade counterfeiting, which will be replaced by digital technology.
My wife is a facilitator at a stamp collector club for kids. According to her, we’re already at the stage where stamps are a historical artefact and some people get surprised when they’re reminded that they have a purpose.
The sky, mostly open and noiseless, without drones.
Houseplants. I feel like they are slowly disappearing. My grandma has plants in nearly every window, but us younger folk would rather have a Displate with a picture if a plant instead if an actual plant.
I think probably yes; there are lovely housewares and glassware being made now, bottles for wines and liquors are not standard and some are really pretty, also a lot of the kitchen appliances currently have pretty nice design.
Actual happiness, whatever that is.
I think musical instruments could definitely be one of them. Yes there are many that are mass-produced and pretty utilitarian, but honestly that’s fine, that’s a way for people to access the artform that they wouldn’t have been able to otherwise. That’s a great thing. And the stuff that’s not mass-produced? Damn there is some real love and skill put into a lot of it
