Old technology will be lost unless we save it all

Hi Cabe,

I have to disagree a little bit with you on the idea of saving old technology. If a techonology is still useful then it won't be phased out, the ZIPDisc and EZDrive systems went by the wayside once USB thumbdrives became cheaply available. There is nothing you can do with Zipdisc or EZDrive that you can't do with a USB thumbdrive with less hassle.

Now some definition of useful is in order, because what some may consider useful others may consider outdated. A good example is Passive vs. Active filters, many engineers sometimes look down on the discrete passive filter, however in low power applications passive filters are very valuable and can in many cases be more reliable than active filters ( because they're simpler in design). So what defines useful is debateable and will depend on who you ask. Generally an overwhelming consensus by consumers will naturally phase out less capable or less user friendly technologies.

So far I've only mentioned the technical aspects of this issue, but there is definitely an intangible human preference issue, sometimes there are also legacy issues involved. For example, why do we still use a limited bandwidth phone system the attenuates the high frequency components of peoples voices when the technology we have today could easily allow for the full audio spectrum? There's no way phone companies are going to replace millions upon millions of infrastructure wiring to accomadate the entire audio spectrum.

Interesting topic, Cabe, you always post some interesting topics. Sorry if I've gone on a rant but I thought this was worth discussing.

I would be interested in knowing of such a Designer Graveyard, sometimes you can find some interesting things sifting through junk.

Best Regards,

Jorge Garcia

I think the problem regarding the designs/schematics/source-codes, is that so long as the technology is still viable, it pays to keep them secret.

The moment things go bust or products become obsolete, there is no interest or need for a company to invest time/resources in archiving this information.

After a few years, the original technology is all but lost. I've had old nostalgic game consoles that I've wanted to resurrect, but it's not so easy 20 years on.

Robert,

Want to clone old video game consoles? Here's an post on how : here.

Cabe

Jorge,

Even though technology gets phased out for the new hot thing, there are many cases where the original should be saved. Easiest example is the vinyl record. Ousted by tape, then by CD, and once more by digital downloads. But LP purchases are on the rise as of recent. Fidelity is what most want here, so an argument that cassette tape playback should be saved as well, due to its analog nature.

A major concern for the U.S. Government is, if you retain information on any type of digital storage device for a long period of time, 50 years from now will the technology exist and be functional enough to read the data? And like the case of the military siren, will the ability to make any one device still be an option? For example, an associate of mine have assembly programs on 10" floppy disks. He was only able to read it on his old TRS-80 computer. He was able to transfer it to 5.25" floppy, and then again to 3.5" and harddrive storage. However, if he didn't still have the TRS-80, all would have been lost.

In the day of near infinite storage, technology, methods, manufacturing steps, and all information should be saved. I would rather have the source code of that game, than all the spam messages in my gmail account.

Another non-technology related example I would like to share too. As the generation that served in World War II started passing away, it dawned on the U.S. Government to try and save the stories, histories, images of the generation. So many stories have been lost before the initiative began. for instance, a friend of my grandfather used to tell me about his time in the European Theatre and the Battle of the Bulge. He told me some amazing anf frieghtening accounts of his time there, and now that he has passed, his stories passed with him. It's a shame.

Anyone still have a TRS-80 by chance?

Cabe

Great discussion. I had a few chats with my old boss on stuff like this. He really had some stories to tell. He worked with NASA on amorphous materials..In fact his first paper was with Gordon Moore of Intel (Moore's law fame). they were working on a meterial to make a pilot's visor that would not blind him in a nuclear explosion. The same, almost obsolete technology is now being reinvestigated for use in memory applications.

I think that even technology that we consider as obsolete has a place in society, especially for a new take on different applications

My old boss threatened to write a book on his experiences, I keep waiting for the release..real James bond stuff.

Hi Paul

I love your collection. Not so long ago I would have had to take out a second mortgage to buy a collection like this! I once tried to collect old 80s-early 90s home computers, but I only got as far as a ZX81, ZX Spectrum (broken), Macintosh Colour Classic (with the max. 10MB RAM) and a Macintosh G2 (I forget which model) with colour monitor. I think your idea is a good one, as long as you have space and anyone else you live with doesn't mind.

Keep it up!

Philip

PS: However, with a few exceptions (e.g., Nakamichi), all cassette decks should be junked as the cassette could possibly be the worst music format ever to reach the market!

Paul.

Great work on the collection. Keep it up, and you will have a museum on you hands. Plus, somewhere along the line a need for a piece from your collection will benefit you financially for sure.

I remember, the first video camera I ever used was that Hitachi VM-1280E. Or at least looked just like it. I miss the older full sized tape recorders.

Cabe