Many of today's ancient technologies were once considered the best. With the advent of newer and more complex technology, many older versions are obsolete.
Despite this, many people still use these old techniques despite the updates, and they are still very popular today!
9 ancient techniques that are still popular today
1-Fax machines
2-Pay phone
In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, and William Gray installed the first public payphone in a bank in Hartford, Connecticut in 1889.
The coin-operated pay phone used during that period used a “postpaid” mechanism. "Prepaid" telephone systems were introduced in 1898 in Chicago.
During the first decade of the twenty-first century, the popularity of payphones began to decline with the advent of cell phones.
However, it is still in use because it is mandatory to provide it so that people can make calls to emergency services even though their numbers are significantly reduced.
3-Pager
The use of pagers peaked between the 1980s and 1990s. The first pager was used by the Detroit Police Department in 1921.
After its commercial introduction in 1949, the pager was used by a hospital in New York City where many physicians signed up for the service by paying a set fee.
Although pagers have declined significantly in circulation, they are still the preferred method of communication for people who work in critical areas or in the event of network failure.
4-Floppy disks
The 8-inch floppy disk drive was invented by IBM's Alan Shugart in 1967. In August 1981, it was upgraded to a 5.25-inch disk and used in IBM's first personal computer.
The discs are known as "floppy discs" because of their flexible plastic shell that provides resistance against dust.
These disks are still used as firmware in updating ATMs, medical equipment, and parts of the aviation industry, and as a backup for equipment running on MS-DOS due to their reliability and resistance to virus attacks.
5-CRT TV screens
German scientist Karl Ferdinand Braun invented the cathode ray tube, a specialized vacuum tube, in 1897. A screen emits visible light when it hits a beam of electrons.
In 1966, Sony released the first CRT television that offered extraordinary color brightness and better contrast. However, with the advent of LCD monitors and flat screen TVs, CRT monitors began to decline in popularity as the former provided better visual experience and clarity.
Although its application in the consumer industry is almost outdated, it is still preferred in medical imaging, industrial heating solutions, and by professional arcade gamers due to its better image quality compared to LCD monitors.
6-COBOL . programming language
It is considered the oldest programming language since its existence since the 1950s. COmmon, Business Oriented Language (COBOL) is a programming language commonly used for commercial and administrative purposes.
It runs on mainframe computers as well as personal computers.
During the 1980s, many small businesses migrated from COBOL mainframes to PCs, but incurred huge migration costs.
In the 1990s, the language was considered outdated as many companies embraced the latest technology.
The programming language is still used in government and business data processing for decades due to its persistence in maintaining legacy systems. Millions of bank transactions are still processed daily using COBOL software.
7-Walkie-talkies
Canadian Don Hingis invented the walkie-talkie in 1937 for his company CM&S. Initially called the "packset", the device gained fame during World War II by offering two-way communication.
He also went on to create the famous C-58 package which consisted of an array of antennas, audio jammers and filters to mask battle noise and receive clear communications.
Over the years, these walkie-talkies have been greatly reduced in size and are still preferred by police and military officers and vital services because they still operate in the absence or failure of cellular networks.
8-Printed newspapers
Newspaper circulation began in the 17th century, and the first newspaper was printed in 1665 in England. In 1704, the Boston News Letter began to be published as a weekly in the United States. Gaining popularity, James Franklin printed the Boston Gazette in 1719.
In the twenty-first century, major players in the newspaper market have begun to publish editions online for easy and free access.
Although it has been overshadowed by TV, radio, and online news, it remains the traditional preferred option for people who want an internet-free life.
9-Windows XP
Windows XP was a personal computer operating system created by Microsoft and launched on October 25, 2001.
After its launch, it dominated the computer industry by powering about 90% of computers while the remaining Linux and Mac operating systems are used.
The operating system gained its fame for its graphical user interface, virtual memory management, multitasking, and utility support.
It was also the popular choice of operating system for servers and mobile phones. As of January 2019, 2.18% of Windows PCs are still running Windows XP.
Although Microsoft ended extended support for Windows XP in 2014, it is widely used by many who prefer an intuitive user interface over newer versions.
Moreover, Windows XP runs smoothly even if you have a computer with a lower memory configuration, and the cost of upgrading to a newer version is high.