For example, buildings and houses more than a hundred years old keep getting more and more rare, and often have an aesthetic that stands out, more ornate or with a particular style that most people can't afford today or that is not financially convenient etc. But back in the day, that's how things were built and most people didn't put much thought into it.
Another example, illustrations for advertisements ( either billboards or magazines). Up until the 60s (declining from the 70s onwards) a lot of ads had hand drawn illustrations, which required a lot of skill and talent to make. Yet people took them for granted, it was the standard quality of illustration for ads.
So the question is, are we currently mass producing something that will be seen in a similar light in a couple of generations? Thoughts?
Agreed with the keyboards. They'll probably become a tool specifc for certain professions only.
I see your point with the battery, but I'm not sure if I'm getting it completely. I also agree, it's wasteful and not environmentally responsible. But by the time a battery needs replacing, the device is obsolete not because it's worn out but because it's obsolete, there are much more powerful models our in the market which can handle the much more demanding software. I guess what I'm trying to say it that batteries are far from being the only problem in that whole situation.
I wonder if streaming services will be herded back together in the future. TV is a relatively new thing, and I wonder if what we are seeing is the beginning of a pattern. Perhaps some sort of third party that curates content from several competitors.
The battery issue isn't just in devices that go obsolete. It is also in devices like bike lights where the original functionality never changes. And even in devices like a smartphone, phone battery life often drops off far before the useful life ends.
Yes, that's what I'm getting at, the useful life of the device isn't over but for most people is more convenient to just replace it.