(Image source from: Happy 25th birthday to World Wide Web)
The World Wide Web turns 25 today! And in the last quarter century of its existence, it has pervaded, infiltrated and dominated billions of lives in more ways than we can count. With the growing number of 'netizens', the Web has successfully ousted things that were once an integral part of human existence. Don't believe us? Then read on to know the things that Web has made obsolete within its 25 years of existence. Read on.
1. Planner and appointment diaries
Have you seen anyone use a planner or an appointment diary of late? In the age of Google and other online calendars, who cares about carrying bulky calendars and planners and assiduously writing down all important meetings and dates. Passe, seriously passe!
2. Maps
When was the last time you actually backpacked into the unknown wielding a map? With services like Google Maps not only guiding you down the lesser known roads, but also suggesting the best routes for you to take, traffic movements and even recommending the best places to visit, there is really little reason for anyone to lug a physical map everywhere.
3. Encyclopedias
Wikipedia and Google have become synonymous to Encyclopedias today.
4. Porn magazines
Really. Who buys porn magazines anymore? The online porn industry has single handedly swallowed the business of many ‘established’ smut magazines. Not to forget the free sites!
5. Telegrams and letters
Remember the last time you sent a telegram to someone? Yeah, blame email for that. The romanticized bundles of hand written and even the typed letters tied up with a blue ribbon in the metaphorical attic have been now replaced with printouts of emails.
6. Airline booking centres
The sheer number of printouts and mobile phones with PNRs that are waved around at airports is enough explanation for this one. Booking tickets has become a cakewalk now.
7. Dictionaries
With online dictionaries, it’s become much easier to type and search for words rather than painstakingly look for them in a heavy tote full of words and meanings.
8. Photo albums
If not for Facebook, this probably wouldn't happen.
9. Recipe books
Recipe books are gone and so are the recipe shows. Now most enterprising cooks Google for new and favorite recipes.
10 Greeting cards
Gone are the days when birthdays, Valentines Day and anniversaries were accompanied with a bunch of greeting cards. Now, Facebook is the new greeting card.
AW: Suchorita Dutta
