With all of the advances in modern technology, we have amazing things that used to only exist in science fiction, like humanoid robots, supercomputers able to process the most complicated of calculations, and access to any knowledge in the world in our pocket on a device more powerful than what was used to land on the moon. So why do people choose to go back to old technology? 

Some want a cheaper, reliable alternative that will “get it done” without too much fuss. Some want to reminisce about the nostalgic feelings of older tech. Perhaps it’s something they grew up with and have fond memories of, or it’s even something from before their time, and they are curious about what it was like to use. Some simply want to leave the often overstimulating environment that modern technology can bring. Modern technology can be very “in your face” about many things, such as advertising or the quality of products constantly going down. Over the years, products have been made cheaper and less durable to increase profits. It is also better for the environment to recycle what already exists instead of making something new.

I have written articles before about reusing old technology, and I do it for a lot of different reasons, from their lower cost, to not wanting to see a perfectly good computer go to waste, or just wanting to experiment and try something out. Even if the technology seems too old to be useful, it can surprise you! For example, I am currently writing this article on a laptop that is 18 years old! While reusing technology can be more time-consuming and technically challenging, it is very redeeming. Nostalgia or curiosity about the past is a powerful factor in using old technology. For example, televisions started as cathode ray tubes that could only display black and white pictures, and now we have televisions so high quality and so thin that they look like windows. Seeing the differences and similarities is interesting. 

If you ever see some old technology, like a family member’s computer that they don’t need anymore, or you go to a thrift store and find something cool, give it a try! You never know what you might discover.