subject: An ode to lost technology – disposable cameras [print this page] With all of the new and quick advances in current technology these days, such as mobile air cards and 4G networks, to name a few, it seems that many of the old technologies get lost in the cracks. Granted, this is not at all a new concept, it is just natural evolution although technological evolution sounds more applicable. The VCR was the most amazing piece of electronic equipment imaginable until the DVD came around. Sure, stores merged the two to help with the transition, but videos let alone the VHS format unfortunately do not exist anymore in mainstream society. They have become archaic within 12 years. Because of this, there comes a time when we should all just step back for a minute and pay tribute to the items that are slowly disappearing or never really had a fair shot competing with the now wireless Internet revolution. First up on the chopping block, film and cameras.
It is only fitting to begin this memoriam with the disposable camera. Back in the day only 10 years ago, but with the way the world currently moves that statement is applicable everyone had and used a disposable camera. It was the thing to do. Before going out to a party or to a major event, people would buy a cheap camera at either a store or a Kodak vending machine to take a few photos. There was nothing like dropping off that camera at a one-hour photo shop and waiting, with anticipation, to see if any of the shots had fingers in the frame or if people had their eyes closed. Those were great times.
Now, the digital camera has replaced not only the disposable camera, but also the waiting time. Those cheap cameras along with their vending machines are almost nonexistent. Even the one-hour photo stores are closing down. And since photos are shot with such ease and can be seen immediately, all the issues with eyes being shut or out of focus shots are a thing of the past. Actually, people are now taking more photos than they should, capturing every single moment on a 5 GB memory card. New parents are taking thousands and thousands of shots of their infant child, rapidly uploading them (since everyone has mobile broadband or fast satellite internet these days) and emailing them to friends and families. It is absurd and overkill. But, as long as they are happy, they will keep taking those photos.
Of course, this is only the beginning. With memory cards getting larger and Internet technologies like mobile WiMax developing, people can now take a photo with their smart phone and instantly upload and email it to all family and friends with just the push of a button. Actually, they can take five of the same photo, choose the best one available, delete the rest and then go from there.
This should not be a sad discussion by any means; it is just a tribute. Technologies come and go just as people live and die, it is the natural progression of all things. But that is no reason not to appreciate the days of filling up a whole roll of film and getting it developed without any previous knowledge of how the photos were going to come out. It was just a simple feeling of mystery that unfortunately is now lost, due to the advancements of technology.
