1. Using a card catalog at the library to find a book.
2. Dial-up internet and the sound it made when connecting.
3. Not knowing an answer to a question and having to look it up in an encyclopedia.
4. The joy of finding a hidden gem at a video rental store.
5. The frustration of waiting for your favorite song to play on the radio.
6. Passing handwritten notes during class instead of texting.
7. The challenge of trying to meet up with friends without a cell phone.
8. Navigating using paper maps and printed directions.
9. Figuring out your class schedule without online registration systems.
10. Watching television on a tube TV with limited channels and no DVR or streaming services.
11. Rewinding VHS tapes after watching a movie.
12. Waiting for film photos to be developed before seeing them.
13. Waiting for information from your teacher via physical handouts or in-person instructions.
14. Downloading music one.mp3 file at a time using Napster or Limewire.
15. The limitations of physical resources like newspapers, magazines, and books for research projects.
16. Experiencing the Y2K panic firsthand.
17. Solving math problems without online tools or smartphone apps.
18. Using payphones to make calls when away from home.
19. Chatting on instant messenger programs like AIM and MSN Messenger.
20. Sharing multiple landline phones among family members at home.
21. Playing retro video game consoles, such as Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or Sega Genesis, where graphics and gameplay were simpler compared to today’s games.
22. Making mixtapes on cassette tapes by recording songs off the radio or burning CDs from a computer.
23. Watching floppy disks become obsolete only to be replaced by CDs, DVDs, and now USB drives.
24. Reading physical textbooks and carrying heavy backpacks to school.
25. Listening to Walkmans and Discmans instead of smartphones with streaming music.
26. Feeling the anticipation of waiting for a new episode of your favorite show to air on TV each week.
27. Using word processors like WordPerfect or early versions of Microsoft Word on bulky desktop computers.
28. The novelty of having a home computer as a new and rare addition to the household.
29. Understanding the cultural impact of 90s television shows like “Friends,” “Seinfeld,” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
30. Experiencing life before social media, where interactions were face-to-face or through written letters.
Today’s students may find it hard to fathom some of these experiences, but this list serves as a reminder of how far technology and society have come in just a few short decades.
