Millennials are the generation born between 1981 and 1996, and they have grown up in a world vastly different from what their parents and grandparents experienced. As a result, they may never have heard of some of the things that previous generations were familiar with.
Are you a millennial? You’re about to discover strange and unfamiliar terms that were part of the everyday lives of older generations.
Dial-up Internet
Before broadband, dial-up was the only option for connecting to the internet. It was incredibly slow and required a phone line, which meant you couldn’t use it while on the phone. Although the technology is still in use in some rural or remote areas, the speed and lack of features make it virtually impossible to be a part of everyday life.
Slide Rules
Slide rules were used before calculators became available and were incredibly difficult to use. They consisted of two or three strips of wood with numbers written on them, and by sliding the strips, you could calculate equations. Modern calculators have completely replaced this technology.
8 Inch Floppy Disk
Back then, 8-inch floppy disks were the norm for data storage. Crazy, right? Made from a flexible material with a magnetic coating, they were incredibly slow to write to, prone to failure, and could only hold a small amount of data. These bulky disks are now obsolete with newer technologies like CDs and flash drives.
Automats
An automat was an automated cafeteria that served up a variety of food and drinks. Customers would insert coins into the machines to select their items, dispensed from a wall of compartments. These cafeterias were popular in the mid-1900s but are no longer common due to the emergence of fast-food restaurants.
Roller Skate Needing a Key
Before roller skates used the modern locking system, they were secured to your feet with a key. You would insert a large metal key into the base of the skate and twist it to secure them to your shoes. This system was uncomfortable and inefficient and has since been replaced with modern skates with Velcro straps or laces.
Telegrams
Telegrams were written messages sent via telegraph, a communication system developed in the 1800s. They were sent between two parties using a code of dots and dashes called Morse Code. This communication system was eventually replaced by the telephone. Despite its technical viability, it is scarcely employed in modern times.
Pet Rock
This phenomenon was a “pet” with no needs and no maintenance. It was simply a rock placed in a box with air holes so it could “breathe.” While the pet rock trend quickly died out, it has become an iconic symbol of the 1970s and is now remembered as one of the most unusual trends to come out of the era.
Milk Chutes
In the early 20th century, milk chutes were common in apartment buildings. They consisted of a metal chute attached to the outside of a building with a door at the bottom that opened into someone’s kitchen or dining room. Without entering the home, milk and other items could be deposited from this external source. This delivery method is obsolete, as most households purchase milk from supermarkets.
Brownie Cameras
Brownie cameras were simple and affordable point-and-shoot cameras released by Kodak in the early 1900s. They were incredibly popular, and many amateur photographers learned how to use cameras with them. They are no longer manufactured but remain iconic symbols of a simpler time.
Sea Monkeys
Sea Monkeys were a popular pet in the 1960s and 1970s, consisting of an egg-like powder that would hatch into tiny crustaceans when put in water. They were promoted as “instant pets” and came with a tank, food, and instructions on how to care for them. Though they are still available today, they aren’t as popular as they once were.
Frug Dance
The Frug was a popular dance in the 1960s that involved rapid arm and body movements. The movements were considered daring at the time and consisted of swinging arms, leg kicks, and hopping on one foot. While it has been mostly forgotten today, it was an iconic part of pop culture in the 1960s.
Tab Soda
Tab Soda was a diet soft drink introduced in 1963 and became a successful diet cola in the United States. It had a unique flavor and was marketed as a “diet” drink, becoming incredibly popular among those trying to watch their weight. Tab drink is still around today but has lost some popularity due to increased competition from other diet sodas.
Answering Machines
Answering machines were popular in the 1980s but have since been replaced by voicemail. Answering machines allowed people to record a message that would be played back when someone called their phone number. They were difficult to use and required frequent maintenance, so they eventually became dead and gone with the emergence of more modern technologies.
Pagers
Pagers were all the rage before cell phones came along and served the same purpose. You could get messages, usually through a phone number or a code. A special receiver would beep to let you know you had a message. Now, with mobile technology, pagers are a thing of the past.
Laser Discs
Laser Discs were a video format that used a laser to read the data from the disc. They had higher quality than VHS tapes and were popular for home theater systems but never took off. Nowadays, they’re obsolete because of DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
TurboGrafx-16
The TurboGrafx-16 was a gaming console released in the late 1980s. It was one of the first systems to use CD-ROM technology and boasted impressive graphics. Despite its technical capabilities, it quickly faded into obscurity in the gaming industry due to competition from Nintendo and Sega and is now mostly forgotten.
Green Stamps
Green Stamps were a type of loyalty program used by retailers in the 1950s and 1960s. Customers would get small paper stamps with pictures of animals or fruit that they could collect and redeem for products at participating stores. Green Stamps have since been replaced by more modern loyalty programs, such as rewards cards and digital coupons.
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