Each generation in turn has its own standards of what is high tech and what is antique. Kids who grew up in the 50′s, who previously had sat around the family radio listening to their favorite shows, witnessed the introduction of television. The next generation couldn’t imagine life without TV. So what about today’s kids? What contraptions that used to seem futuristic to their parents, do modern kids think of as dinosaurs? Here are ten old school devices that kids today don’t know how to use:
- Slide Rule – A device that may as well be lumped together with the abacus and cave drawings, it was not so very long ago the de facto calculator of its time. We’re embarrassed to admit that we learned to use one in high school shop class.
- Typewriter – Sure, the QWERTY keyboard is still here; but it’s no longer attached to a 30-lb. behemoth with an ink ribbon and enough mechanical linkages to put Transformers to shame.
- Record Player – Precious few youngsters are familiar with the audio fidelity that made this gizmo a staple among audiophiles. Compressed digital sound has replaced the analog sound of LP and stylus; but the good news is that vinyl is making a comeback.
- Compass – Modern navigational aids are all electronic, so the very concept of magnetic north is but a distant memory for many, and an antiquated concept for others. (Pro tip for old schoolers: No GPS on-board? You can also determine direction by checking satellite TV dishes on rooftops, which always face south.)
- Rotary Phone – The very idea of turning a dial for anything seems archaic to us now, from changing channels on a TV to placing phone calls. Kids today could probably use the exercise. As a side bonus, your family’s phone bill would likely be cut in half overnight.
- VCR – We recall a time when we had to train our parents how to use these gadgets, and get that confounded 12:00 to stop flashing. Ironically, now they would have to teach their techie grandkids how to use them. Ah, the circle of life.
- Push Mower – We’re not talking about this kind of push mower, we mean one of these. Believe it or not, back in the day, it was the high tech alternative to swinging a grass whip. Now it looks like some medieval torture device. Come to think of it, it seemed like that back then too, while we were laboring in the fields.
- White-Out – We wonder sometimes whether anyone even writes anymore, much less corrects typos on paper with this stuff. Seems like everyone in our family just posts updates on Facebook.
- Walkman – The great-grand-daddy of the MP3 player, this Sony icon was at one time so ubiquitous that the brand name became the standard moniker (a la Band-Aid, Kleenex, and Velcro) for all similar products – in this case, personal audio cassette players. Can you imagine having to mechanically fast-forward or rewind through an entire reel of tape just to “jump” to another song track?
- 35mm Camera – Likewise, the art of feeding film onto the take-up reel of a 35mm camera was not for the squeamish. Lining up those notches and setting up that first photo frame took some skills.
If you haven’t visited the world of karaoke for quite some time, you and your kids might be in for a nice surprise. It’s no longer as cheesy as it once was and technology has developed along with demand especially for a decent karaoke machine for kids. While there will certainly always be an element of kitsch-appeal to karaoke, it has built up enough of a fan base to be seen as a legitimate form of entertainment. Every year, millions of dollars are poured into the industry that sees brand-new machines and exciting CD compilations ensuring that this hobby will survive well into the future. All you have to do is visit your local karaoke bar to see that it is still thriving, and even more so now that more people are familiar with this once-foreign an activity. If you’re looking for a way to revitalize your leisure time, then karaoke might be the answer that has been around all along. Better yet, it can provide a fun way to spend quality time with your kids no matter how old they are.
There are still lots of preconceptions that prevent people from fully exploring the option of buying a karaoke machine. Lots of people think that it will cost them a lot of money but these days there are many options in all price categories – especially for kids. And if you are a total beginner, there’s really no point in buying anything too fancy anyways because you won’t be using all of the features. You basically need something that will be able to play your favorite CDs while enhancing your voice with the microphone. Anything else is just extra, and there’s no need to waste your money on bells and whistles if you’re a rookie.
Top Karaoke Machine for Kids (Our Favorite) – Singing Machine SML 383
The Singing Machine SML 383 is a great choice for kids and probably one of the best kids karaoke machines on the market. There are also options that come in the form of the Disney Hanna Montana or Barbie machine that come with specific themes. These days you can find a basic karaoke machine like the SML 383 for as little as $50, and you can rest assured that it won’t be some piece of junk that only last a few months. If you’re willing to spend a bit more, then you can enjoy high-quality pieces of equipment that come with additional features such as iPod compatibility, video cameras, or even thousands of songs built into the system. With a budget of $400, you could get something like the Entertech ET-19K which is basically a party system that is ready to go right out-of-the-box. With something like this, you get 2000 songs built into the system which is more than enough to last you for several months. There is also karaoke software that you can use with your PC, and of course a more people are engaging in online karaoke where they can share their performances with other people.
All of this means you and your family can finally give karaoke a shot if you’ve never tried it before, and don’t be surprised if your kids pick it up without much prompting at all. And with modern machines and their ability to balance and auto-tune, there’s nothing stopping you from giving a performance that will blow your friends away. You can bring something entirely new to birthdays and celebrations, or you can even come up with your own themes for costume parties or singing contests. It’s an exciting time to enter this unique world that will give your friends and family a chance to enjoy music and singing together. For more information on finding the right system for you, you can read more at karaokemachineguide.com.
