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Encylopedia
Encyclopedias are books that contain a lot of information on a variety of topics. They were most popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, but then slowly started becoming obsolete when they stopped printing them in 2012. I think they became obsolete because the same information that people would find in the encyclopedias they would be able to find on the internet. -
Overhead projector machines
The Overhead projector was a machine that allowed people to display images from a computer or laptop in real time. These devices were used mostly in classrooms for presentations or lessons. They were most popular during the 1990s but then fell in popularity around the same time because people favored other ways and products for projecting images. My theory as to why it fell in fame is that people got tired of moving around a heavy machine, and found lighter alternatives. -
Typewriters
Typewriters were machines used for typing characters (letters, numbers, signs). They were most popular after the mid-1880s and then became obsolete in 1980. I believe that they became obsolete because new, improved, and easier-to-use computers/laptops/writing devices became more popular, making this heavy device useless. -
Phone books
Phone Books were the first telephone directory that came out on February 21, 1878. Although they were not environmentally friendly, they were believed to be revolutionary ever since they had come out. As the years went by, the production and popularity of the product went down starting in 2010. I believe that phone books became obsolete because people started being able to find numbers to offices and businesses online and had peoples numbers already stored in their phones. -
Pagers
Pagers, also known as beepers, were small wireless telecommunications devices that received and displayed written, numeric, or voice messages on them. One common use of them was by doctors in hospitals as a way of communicating on patients. They were most popular during the 1980s, to the late 1990s and early 2000s when they started to become obsolete. My theory as to why they became obsolete is that messages, both audio and visual, were able to be sent digitally through technology like phones. -
VCR
A Videocassette Recorder was an electromechanical device that recorded analog audio and video from broadcast tv or other sources. This recording could then be played back after rewinding. It was popular during the late 1970s to the early 2000s. The product started declining in popularity during the early 2000s, specifically during the July of 2016. My theory as to why this product became obsolete is that companies didn't want to make them anymore or cellphones became more able and smart. -
Fax machines
Fax machines were devices that allowed you to send and receive documents over a telephone line. It would also turn written documents into electric signals that could be sent to someone else. They were most popular during the 1980s but then started to decline in popularity during the late 1990s. My theory as to why this product became obsolete is that with the creation of email and other forms of digital faxing, no one felt the need to use a fax machine anymore. -
Portable cassette tape players
The Portable cassette tape players were personal mobile devices that allowed people to play their own music while mobile. They were very popular during the 1970s to the early 1990s where they started to become obsolete. My theory as to why they became obsolete is that the ability to play music from your own device became digital, and people could now access music from their phones, laptops, iPad, etc... -
Flip Phones
The flip phone was a wireless phone that could be used without internet access. The were popular all the way from the 1990s, to the early 2010s where they started to fall in popularity and become discontinued. My theory as to why they became obsolete is that flip phones became a hassle to opperate or went out of fashion, leaving small block phones to take over. -
Apple iPod
The Apple iPod was introduced on October 23, 2001, and was the first 6.5-ounce MP3 player with the ability to store 1000 songs and hold a charge for 10 hours. The iPod was most wanted and popular in the year 2006 and declined in popularity/became obsolete in 2009. My theory as to why the iPod became obsolete is that the rise of smartphones and new technology made people realize that they no longer need a separate device to play music, because it's all in their phones.