Prepare to Feel Old

Workplace Learning Today pointed me to a post Ten Common Phrases That Could Soon Be History. I use similar kinds of examples in my presentations (and posts such as Work Skills Keeping Up?). I thought it might be fun for me to catalog some of the ones that I’ve used in my presentations and other places as well as have this ready for future presentations.

So here is a list of technologies that:

• Boomers – used
• Gen X – know what it is (probably)
• Millenial – never used / likely don’t know what it is

If you are a Boomer or an older Gen X, this list is sure to make you feel a bit old.

Pay Phones – Collect Calls

• Where’s the nearest pay phone?
• Call me collect?

Typewriter / Ribbon / Correcting Ribbon

"You need to mute your sound"

Records / Phonographs

• Sounds like a broken record
• Skipping
• Needle

Cassette Drive

Floppy Disk / Floppy Drive

• Dual floppy drive
• Word Star
• Word Perfect

Punch Card

Card Catalog

Microfiche Reader

Rabbit Ears

Overhead Projector

Rolodex

Inbox / Outbox

What we did before email …

“Pen Pals”

“Walkman”

“Carbon Copy” or even “BCC”

What did I miss?