Technology has changed a lot over the last few decades. Advancements in the field have reshaped the way we live. However, all these changes have ironically added even more stress to our already hectic lives. Social media, short form content, AI misinformation, and more have made it a slog to do anything nowadays. However, go back 15-20 years, and you’ll find a world that’s not too unfamiliar from what we have now, but oozes with a certain charm that hasn’t been found since.

       One of the biggest differences between then and now is how dominant physical media was. CDs, DVDs, and physical video games were all housed in tangible cases. There was no such thing as streaming, and ownership was in the hands of the consumer alone. Content could not be removed unless done so by the owner, unlike now, where it can be pulled from digital storefronts at any time. 

       Building a physical media collection was very satisfying, as all you needed to consume your purchased media was the media itself and a device to run it on. There was no need to worry about which service it was on or whether you needed a subscription; just plug it in and enjoy. All those cases lined up on a shelf made it feel like one had their own curated library dedicated to their favorite music, movies, and more.

       The aesthetic of 2000s tech also played into its charm. Known as “Frutiger Aero”, this era of tech featured round, glossy designs with an emphasis on color saturation and liquid glass surfaces. This brought life to tech that hasn’t been felt since. In our current world, technology is overly minimalist with dull colors and excessively flat designs. There is no depth or variance to any piece of technology, as it has to conform to an extremely boring standard.

      Overall, the evolution of technology over the last decade has been nothing short of a slog. All charm and personality are gone, consumers do not truly own anything, and everything feels artificial. As we continue to move forward in this dystopian technological world, it is important to recognize what we are leaving behind and the soul that is no longer present.