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Time Waits for No One: When ‘Generation Beta’ Quietly Arrives
I recently saw a report by Bored Panda that was truly evocative. It mentioned that ‘Generation Beta’ children born after 2025 are already turning one year old, while the ‘Baby Boomers’ of yesteryear have long since joined the ranks of the silver-haired generation. Hearing this, one can’t help but sigh: ‘Time waits for no one!’For those of us who grew up during the technology transition period, the world has changed as fast as if we were on a jet plane. Those ‘black technologies’ that once accompanied us through late nights, work, and life have suddenly become museum exhibits. Today, let’s take a journey through time and space for a ‘nostalgia trip’ to look at those classic things that have disappeared in the flood of technology, and talk about what they mean to us.
Technology Archaeology: Those Amazing Things That Have ‘Entered History’
These photos are not just images, but a microcosm of an era. The following classic products are guaranteed to make you remember those bits and pieces of the past:
- 3.5-inch Floppy Disks and their ‘Typing Sounds’
- Memory Point: In the past, when handing in reports, holding a 1.44MB floppy disk in your hand felt like holding the whole world. You also had to be careful that the magnetic strip wouldn’t be attracted by a magnet; otherwise, the data would be ‘washed away’ instantly.
- Expert Commentary: Although its capacity seems so small now that it can’t even hold a single high-definition photo, it laid the foundation for the concept of ‘storage.’ Even the save icon in Word today is still paying tribute to it; it really is a ‘Tear of the Generation.’
- The ‘Symphony’ of Dial-up Internet
- Memory Point: Thinking back to when surfing the internet required listening to a sequence of ‘beep—ee—ooo—’ magical sounds that stuck in your brain. The main thing was that the phone line couldn’t be used while online, or it would disconnect!
- Expert Commentary: This ‘slow work makes fine products’ way of surfing the internet cultivated the patience of that generation. Compared to now, where people want to throw their phones if 5G is a second slow, people in the past were truly ‘earnest’ (serious and patient).
- Electronic Dictionaries (Besta, Wenquxing, Besta)
- Memory Point: Every student had one. Nominally it was for looking up words, but in reality, everyone was playing ‘Demon Hunter’ or ‘Heroic Legend’ inside.
- Expert Commentary: This was the prototype of early mobile devices. It digitized heavy dictionaries, and although the screen was pitifully small, it was the enlightenment mentor for countless tech industry predecessors.
- Physical Photo Albums and Film Cameras
- Memory Point: You had to be frugal when taking photos on a trip; a roll of film only had 36 shots. After shooting, you had to wait three days to see the results. If the photos turned out poorly, you just had to ‘swallow the bitter pill.’
- Expert Commentary: Physical photos have a ‘sense of weight’ that cloud photos can never replace. The tactile sensation of flipping through a photo album is a sentiment that a cold screen can never simulate.
In-depth Analysis: Why are we obsessed with these ‘Antiques’?
In today’s world of ever-changing technology, we have AI, folding phones, and satellite communications. Why do we still ‘talk about the old days’? This is not just nostalgia, but a pursuit of a ‘sense of purity.’
- The Disappearance of Ritual:In the past, listening to music meant putting in a CD and pressing the Play button; this action brought a sense of participation. Modern technology pursues being ‘fast, ruthless, and accurate.’ Although convenient, it also makes the process dull. We used to ‘make the most of things,’ but now they are ‘disposable.’
- The Warmth of Physical Connection:As hinted in the report, from Baby Boomers to Gen Alpha and even Gen Beta, the lives of ‘Digital Natives’ are filled with virtual signals. Those disappearing physical objects are actually the ‘anchors’ of our connection with the real world.
- Anxiety Over Changing Times:Looking at these photos, we realize that we are also aging along with technology. This anxiety prompts us to seek common memories, thereby confirming our place in the long river of time.
Conclusion: Looking to the Future, Not Forgetting the Original Intention
Although many products have ‘changed with the stars’ and are even jokingly called ‘fossil-level’ technology, it is precisely these stepping stones that paved the way for today’s convenient internet society. Facing Generation Beta, which is about to become mainstream, we don’t need to reject new technology, but looking back occasionally at these ‘Tears of the Generation’ can allow us to pursue efficiency while not forgetting the original intention of technology serving humanity.After all, technology will go out of style, but the emotion that accompanies technological growth will never be ‘formatted.’ What is your most profound tech memory? Is it that indestructible Nokia 3310, or that pirated game disc that can no longer be read? Feel free to leave a comment below and let’s have a ‘Memory Battle’ together!”
