Becoming Obsolete

Obsolete: no longer in use or no longer useful. No longer used because something newer exists.

Everyday advances in technology help to create something "better" to replace what we have. Each new model does more than the previous one, and they tell us it will make life easier. In some ways it can, however, many times these advancements lead to humans losing one more skill in their intellectual toolbox. Each skill lost will not be passed on to the next generation; skills that will become obsolete and not useful anymore.

Since I was a child there are many things that have become obsolete. A few that come to mind:

• Manual Typewriter
• Manual Cash Register
• Rotary Dial Telephone
• Slide Projectors
• 8 Track Tape Deck
• VHS Player
• Pagers

I'm not saying the "newer" models aren't better, but with each thing we no longer have use for, we also lose the skills and knowledge required to use them. Think of how many young people you know that can't count back change from a purchase. A register tells them what to give back to the purchaser.

The point is more and more things are becoming obsolete every day.  We worry about the fact that there are not enough decent jobs available today, but with each advancement machines have replaced people over the years. Manufacturing that used to be done solely with people on an assembly line, is now done using robotics in place of some of those people. Self-serve cash registers negate the need for hiring more cashiers. Automated toll scanners delete the toll booth workers. At the rate we are going, there will be fewer and fewer jobs for an ever-increasing population. If there are no jobs, how will families support themselves? What knowledge and skills will they pass on to future generations?

I often wonder what will become of the human race. When we have created things that will do all of our thinking; when there are automated systems to do the work that we now do; will we be the "thing" that becomes obsolete? Will the world have no use for us?