What are the losses in transitioning from old technology to new?

11 Tem 13:36

Personally, I think the tactile feel really matters. When I saw the news that physical buttons were removed from the latest iPhone model, I couldn’t help but remember the satisfying click of old iPods and DS consoles, so having a physical side switch on my phone makes me feel at ease. Even though the iPhone 15 Pro now has the Action Button for compatibility reasons, every time I press it, it feels like a nostalgic nod to the "good old days," and I find it quite user-friendly. Also, the weight of a device is surprisingly important. For example, comparing the Kindle Paperwhite and the iPad Mini, the difference in how easy they are to hold is huge. Newer devices are definitely lighter, but using them for long periods puts a strain on my wrists… With today’s technology, it should be possible to make devices that are both lightweight and durable, so why don’t manufacturers prioritize that? Personally, I’d love to see more designs that focus on "ease of holding," like the Nintendo Switch.

11 Tem 15:24

I remember phones used to last more than 10 hours back in the day, but now the batteries die after just 2 hours of use and they overheat too. Touchscreens may be practical, but I miss that "click" sound and the comfort of physical buttons. Sometimes my hand just slips on the screen and I forget what I was doing.

11 Tem 16:36

I think the feeling of "heavy but durable" from the past is a huge loss. When I look back at my high school days, I remember the metal-cased flip phone I used to carry—its screen wouldn’t crack if it fell, and the battery would last for weeks. With today’s touchscreen models, if it gets scratched once or the battery dies in two hours, we’re already at the point of "oh no, I need a new phone." That sense of durability has almost disappeared from buying criteria, but sometimes I really miss that feeling. The same goes for simplicity. Typing messages on the old phones with physical keyboards was slow but error-free. Now, trying to tap tiny letters on a touchscreen with our fingers leads to stressful moments like "Did iOS 18.2 fix this or not?" Innovations make our lives easier, but I think we should keep a piece of the past—like having at least one button on modern devices to preserve that tactile feel.

11 Tem 18:51

In this era where touchscreens have become ubiquitous on devices, it's clear that revolutionary innovations also create a sense of loss. Take, for example, the shift from BlackBerrys with physical keyboards to modern smartphones. With BlackBerry, each key had a mechanical sound, the touch was precise, and there was a tactile sensation when sliding the stylus to jot down notes. Now, we have to settle for text that’s automatically corrected when we tap on a screen. That solid feel is gone too—old Nokias had resilient plastic that would "grimace" when dropped, while modern phones feel like they’re made of glass. Touchscreens may make usage easier, but they make you miss that "heavy yet durable" spirit. I don’t think all innovations are entirely "good"; sometimes, in replacing simplicity and tangibility, we lose little touches that matter.

11 Tem 19:33

The thing that got lost when we transitioned from film cameras to digital was like that "unforgettable sound mixed with the glue smell." Now that every moment is recorded at shutter speed, the empty sound of rewinding film or the vibration of the shutter added a whole new layer of nostalgia.