aNewDomain.net — At one point in history, companies that manufactured buggy whips thrived. Same with the businesses that made butter churns, Conestoga wagons, and Morse code keys. To no surprise, improved technological advances did away with them all. The list of obsolete technology is practically endless, and the demise of so many things has not ebbed. As a matter of fact, it seems to be accelerating.
Cartoon by Tom Sloan
When I was young, computers were as small as a refrigerator. That’s much smaller than the grocery store size they used to be. My camera was a typical two-pound 35mm SLR. I had a stop watch, a calculator, hand-held games, LED games, tape recorders, CB radios, and lead pipes. Many of the industries that manufactured these things are now as scarce as hens’ teeth. Any retailer that was narrow-minded enough not to expand also met a similar fate. I can get rid of my old things now that they are all included in my smartphone. What is coming in the future that will cause the smartphone to suffer the same fate as the buggy whip?
For aNewDomain.net, I’m Tom Sloan.
Tom Sloan has drawn cartoons and illustrations for numerous publications — including the original BYTE magazine. Not limited to print, Tom’s cartoons and collages are displayed in museums and galleries throughout the United States. He’s also an accomplished animator. He’s created animations for such as clients Sesame Street, HBO, Nickelodeon, Captain Kangaroo, Romper Room, Burger King and McDonalds.
