# weirdly antiquated technological dead ends that are still a part of modern life **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 25, 2004, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245 "2004-06-25T22:07:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Ghanima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Ghanima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ghanima)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/61 "2004-06-30T18:29:53Z")
How about television? Of course, it’s nice that it is “free” if you don’t count the cost of the television itself, but what you get for “free” these days is complete crap. Why not just roll your computer monitor and television into a single package? Let it receive television wavelength broadcasts as well as digital cable shows, let it run TiVo-type programs and play DVDs and view pictures from file. “And there was a great rejoicing on Easter day, for the people were able to TiVo “The Ten Commandments” while watching the game and viewing Aunt Edna’s vacation photos. And the baby photos were on slideshow. And it was good.” And I like the suggestion about replacing power lines, but how the hell else are you going to get power from source to consumer? I suppose you could replace it with table-top fusion(fission?) devices in every home. Otherwise, I don’t see any way around it. Lines buried in the ground are just OK, they are expensive, more difficult to repair and floods cause problems. Also when a line in placed underground it tends to kill lots of the plant life because their root systems get severed when the trench is made. Don’t see any way around it. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/62 "2004-06-30T19:26:25Z")
> [@kalex](#): > > I have a prediction - within a few years, no one will carry checkbooks. > > I have on line banking and a debit card. I almost never write checks anymore. One can only hope! But judging by some of the fanatic checkbook lovers in this thread: [people who write checks at the grocery store in the 21st century.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=256862), I don’t know if we’ll be able to get rid of them any time soon! Some people just love their checks, no matter how inconvenient it is for them and everyone else. ---
**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/63 "2004-06-30T19:29:06Z")
Illicit drugs: heroin, cocaine, marijuana, lsd, all the rest. We should be able to come up with a handful of drugs that make you feel really good with no downside. You know, like Huxley’s soma. We could have soma-h (hallucinogen), soma-d(downer), and plain old soma-classic, for that sittin’ on top of the world feeling. Of course, it’d still be illegal, because all those friggin’ neo-Calvinists out there seem to feel that people should actually DO something, but still… ---
**Author:** ![Darkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@Darkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darkness)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/64 "2004-06-30T19:48:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > **Dental tools!** > > After my last teeth-cleaning ordeal, I went to my doctor for leech application, some bleeding, and a consult for trepaning. > > Man, how medieval an experience _is_ that!? It seems to me that they’re always coming up with new “sonic” tooth cleaning devices, tooth brushes, pastes, chewing gum, easier ways to floss and the disposable tooth scrubbers you slide on your finger. They’ve also gone from metal braces to “invisalign” in orthodontics. I wish they had that during the 5 years I had metal in my mouth. I recall hearing about (although I can’t remember the source :rolleyes: ) laser cavity removal. Atleast they’re making some advancements. But I know, those things don’t help when the dentist stabs you in the gums. How about the penny? It’s not technological, but shouldn’t it be gone by now? Do we need it anymore? ---
**Author:** ![Beauty\_Personified](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e480ec/32.png) [@Beauty\_Personified](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beauty_Personified)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/65 "2004-06-30T20:04:51Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I’ve been systematically replacing my house lights with fluorescent lamps (every time an incandescent goes, it is replaced by fluorescent … Are those fluorescent lights the same basic things used for years in shopping malls and office buildings and schools? Or are they new and improved in the area of flickering? Traditional fluorescent lights flicker really fast; usually so fast that you don’t really notice. You can often see a flicker right when one is turned on. Ones that are going bad can be seen flickering more and more until they’re dead. (Or, rather, less and less; since you only notice the flicker when it slows down.) But the good ones, even though you might not notice them flickering when they’re on, are still flickering. (And you can sometimes hear a humming as well.) Those lights are _hell_ on my head. ☹ In fact, I’ve heard of schools and office buildings switching away from traditional fluorescent lighting because of its negative effects on the people who study, teach and work in those buildings. The longer I’m at the mall, the worse my headache will be. (Of course, the mall is worse than a school; what with all the other smells and sounds which bombard shoppers.) Anyhoo… ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/66 "2004-06-30T21:53:44Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > Check out the [Curta Calculator](http://www.vcalc.net/cu.htm), an all-mechanical calculator the size of a salt shaker. WHOA! I have _got_ to have one of those. Thanks, **Lumpy**. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/67 "2004-06-30T21:57:00Z")
Waitamminit. Just a friggin’ _poster_? Somebody with a machine shop needs to start making those things and selling them. I WANT ONE. ---
**Author:** ![KP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/a9adbd/32.png) [@KP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KP)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/68 "2004-06-30T21:57:31Z")
Potato peelers Industry doesn’t use them, and when I have to peel a lot of potatos, I can do far faster annd less wastefully using a variant on their method: I boil a small saucepot of salted water on the stove, drop the potato in for ca. 60 seconds (determine the exact timing from the first one) then wipe the peel off with a clean dish towel. If you get a rhythm going, with 2-3 parboiling at once, you can peel 20lb in about 7 min, and this method is a godsend if your joints are stiff. Don’t get me wrong, having mastered the art of the Y- and I- peelers, I derive considerable pleasure and satisfaction from doing it the old way. I just think that the Ronco/K-tel Steam Peeler is going to make someone a millionaire someday ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/69 "2004-06-30T22:01:01Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > Waitamminit. > > Just a friggin’ _poster_? Somebody with a machine shop needs to start making those things and selling them. I WANT ONE. eBay is your friend…they go for between $600 and $1700 from what I saw in completed auctions…(I didn’t realise it was a poster, either, and first thought I had won the Christmas pressie sweepstakes, as I know someone who would be overjoyed to own one, too!) ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2004, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/70 "2004-06-30T22:27:22Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > Toilet paper? And what would you propose we do instead?? Why, all those obsolete books of course. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/71 "2004-07-01T02:23:15Z")
> [@Ms Boods](#): > > eBay is your friend…they go for between $600 and $1700 from what I saw in completed auctions…(I didn’t realise it was a poster, either, and first thought I had won the Christmas pressie sweepstakes, as I know someone who would be overjoyed to own one, too!) And hope springs eternal. I _shall_ own one. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/72 "2004-07-01T02:50:58Z")
> [@Bippy the Beardless](#): > > Why, all those obsolete books of course. :eek: Actually, I have always thought it a great pity my dissertation wasn’t printed on preforated paper… ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/73 "2004-07-01T02:54:50Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > And hope springs eternal. > > I _shall_ own one. Sir, I feel the same way about a Coral Sitar. Another contribution – this isn’t universal, but I spin and weave, and the _best_ tool I have for fast winding bobbins is a 250 year old Great Wheel. And to wind skeins I use its mate, my antique clock winder. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/74 "2004-07-01T02:57:23Z")
Stop teasing me. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/75 "2004-07-01T03:19:36Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > Stop teasing me. Didn’t mean to sound mean – was actually commiserating about toys I must have, too… If you mean, you would like to see the Great Wheel and Clock Winder, and what makes them tick, you’re always welcome at Casa Boods 🙂 It’s interesting, whenever I’ve demonstrated wheels, spindles, looms, &c, far more men were interested in what made them go. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/76 "2004-07-01T06:28:36Z")
My beef with the internal combustion engine is that as a means of propulsion it has to carry its own weight. Not much different to a horse in that aspect. We need a system wherby the motive power is not aboard the vehicle. I have no idea what it would be. Maybe a cable tram? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Freejooky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ba8739/32.png) [@Freejooky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freejooky)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/77 "2004-07-01T08:03:38Z")
I just remembered the original example I had in mind when starting this thread - speakers. The concept of reproducing sound by having electric impulses vibrate a piece of plastic (or even paper or cardboard) is comically archaic, like the telegraph. It really seems like we’d have come up with something…better by now. I guess you can say the same thing about microphones, too, since they’re speakers in reverse - shouldn’t we have a better way to more accurately “capture” sound than having air vibrate a piece of plastic (the diaphragm), which then translates it into electical impulses? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/78 "2004-07-01T13:27:35Z")
> [@masonite](#): > > Fax machines! I hate fax machines, they should all be smashed. Think about it – they digitize an image, send the bits down the pipe, another machine on the far end reassembles the bits into the original image, _then throws the data away_. WTF? > > .) I see one major reason why we still have faxes; they’re the only way you can transit a document when all you have is the hard copy. When scanners become more common in the office, then faxes will start to go away. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/79 "2004-07-01T13:35:43Z")
> [@Spectre of Pithecanthropus](#): > > When scanners become more common in the office, then faxes will start to go away. What, and replace a one-stage process with several (any combination of scan, convert/compress, save, email)? The fax still has the edge on labour-saving. ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2004, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245/80 "2004-07-01T13:40:11Z")
> [@kalex](#): > > I have a prediction - within a few years, no one will carry checkbooks. Some people still carry checkbooks? > [@](#): > > I have on line banking and a debit card. I almost never write checks anymore. I never have. I vaguely remember my mother using checks on occasion about twenty years ago. Oh, and ditto on the fax machines. Moronic pointless things. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weirdly-antiquated-technological-dead-ends-that-are-still-a-part-of-modern-life/252245.md?page=5)