Technology continues to advance every year. Depending on when you were born, you’ve likely seen many technological advancements throughout your life, even though they may not seem as new as some of them are.
There has been some form of technology since the beginning of time. There was a time that the invention of the wheel was the biggest and greatest invention of all time. While we’d love to talk about how technology has changed since the beginning of everything, this article will only cover the last 100 years. Here’s how technology has changed through each generation.
The Greatest Generation
The Greatest Generation consists of individuals who were born between 1901 and 1927. At the time of this article, many of those still alive would be in their mid to late 90s. The 1920s may seem like the beginning of technological advancements as it brought appliances to households, including garbage disposal, bread slider, and garage door opener. The radio also emerged during this generation and cost hundreds of dollars.
The Silent Generation
The Silent Generation, also known as the post-war generation, was born between 1928 and 1945. The 1930s is when the first jet engine prototype was designed and flown. The 1940s saw even more technological advancements, including color televisions and microwaves.
The 1940s brought about many modern appliances and technologies that we still use in our homes today, along with the first transistor, which helped influence modern-day electronics.
Baby Boomers
Born between 1946 and 1964, baby boomers have seen many technological advancements in their time. For example, many baby boomers can still remember the first videotapes, credit cards, and hard drives from the 1950s, while younger baby boomers saw the invention of the first computer game, SpaceWar! Not only that, but many baby boomers got to experience the first cassette tapes.
Gen X
Generation X was born between 1965 and 1980, during which personal computers first hit the scene, along with email and GPS systems. Believe it or not, a personal computer in the 70s could cost thousands of dollars.
Millennials
Millennials are of the generations that seem to get the most media attention, likely because they’re known for their social media use and have seen more technological advancements in their lives than any other generation. Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996, which overlaps with the same technological advancements as Gen X.
While Gen X may have seen the first personal computer, older millennial employees got to experience IBM PC, which changed the way businesses function. Of course, the 80s was also when Microsoft launched Windows 1.
The 1990s brought even more advancements, including 2G cell phones and the web, two inventions that have changed the way we live forever. Millennials may also remember the first DVR, which recorded shows in real-time for you to go back and watch before Hulu existed.
Gen Z
Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z has grown up with technology to rely on. Known for making TikTok videos, this generation was born in the digital world. In the 2000s, the world saw the rise of smartphones and the launch of social media. The technology that came about in the 2000s is still very much a part of our daily lives today. You may remember social media beginning with MySpace, but Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter were not far behind.
In the 2010s, the world became filled with technology, including self-driving cars, virtual payment options, 4G, and 3D printing.
Today
The 2020s have been a wild ride so far, even though we’ve only gotten to experience two years of it. We have been evolving from the technological advances of the 1910s and 1920s to give us a world that’s almost completely digital. From spending all of our time online to investing in cryptocurrency and paying for items with digital currency, technology has come a long way in the last few decades.
Technology: Then vs. Now
Millennials and Gen Z could likely function if they went back in time to the twenties, but people from the twenties would have no idea how to live if they were transported to 2021 because there have been too many technological advancements in the past twenty years.
Believe it or not, there was once a time not too long ago when nobody had a cell phone, and Google didn’t exist. That means when someone had a question, they had to go to a library to get the answer, and they had to rely on landlines to talk to friends and family. Now, technology has connected people throughout the world so we can remain in constant communication.
The Future of Technology
More technologies are stacked onto one another and developed every year, and the momentum is not going to shift. So you can expect that new technologies will continue to enhance the way we live our lives, making life easier, more productive, and giving us more distractions to contend with daily.
The future of technology is faster and streamlines all aspects of our daily lives. Unfortunately, we can’t be sure of the future, but we can predict that new technologies will continue to emerge.
Does Technology Really Make Life Easier?
Technological advancements are all about progress, but does progress make our lives easier? Some would argue that technology allows us to be more productive and better at doing simple tasks. However, others argue that technology has brought its own set of complications with it. For example, in the past, people weren’t distracted by their cell phones at work because cell phones simply didn’t exist.
Technology has evolved so quickly over the last twenty years alone that it can be difficult for older generations to keep up. Consider how you use technology to determine if technology makes life easier for you.
Keeping Up
Technology is always evolving, which means learning something new almost every day. However, keeping up with technology can add value to your life, business, and family. Learning about new and emerging technologies can help you keep up with the growing demands of everyday life.