Seeing a 10-year-old girl walking around Boston texting on her iPhone is not an unusual sighting in 2016. Walking into a classroom only to see children taking a test on their computers or iPads is not considered normal. With all of the technological advances occurring around us, between sleep tracking on FitBit and the Apple Watch, it's hard to remember what their equivalents were when most of us were growing up.
1. The Razr vs iPhone
Besides the fact that I didn't have a cell phone until I was in middle school, by no means did I have an iPhone. The Razr was the ultimate phone when I grew up. This simple device, along with the Blackberry and Sidekick Android, immediately led to "being cool."
And what made these phones so popular during the 2000s? The Razr came in an array of colors: pink, blue, grey, black, red, magenta and yellow. Not only this, but compared to the bulky flip phones of the early 2000s, the Razr was sleek and stylish.
According to Digital Trends, a website that writes on digital trends over time, the Razr was first released in 2004, and had over 50 million sold in the summer of 2006. Unlike the iPhone, the Razr's functions were strictly calling and texting.
2. Sidekick vs. iPad
The Sidekick was essentially our first mini computer. It had Internet access, and was the beginning of connecting through social networking. During the time of home phones and bulky gray desktops, the Sidekick offered a smaller, more portable and stylish version.
Overall, the Sidekick began the development of youth culture's strong connection to the Internet and social media. It brought an affordable option to the table that was different from the Razr and other flip phones. According to an article published in Complex, an online pop culture publication, the Sidekick was originally released by T-Mobile as the Hiptop in 2000, and then was re-branded as the Sidekick in 2002.
3. Razor Scooter vs Hoverboard
The Razor Scooter was first released in 2000. According to Razor's website, they sold five million in just six months after its release. This scooter was the means of outdoor playing. It was easy to use, had a break on the back and cushioned handles that wore the longer you used it. Growing up, I remember almost every one of my friends having one. It was almost strange not to. In 2001, the scooter won the "Toy of the Year" award.
It only took Razor five years to create a motorized scooter, but compared to what we have now, even that seems old. Today, Razor, like many other companies, has a hover board product out on the market. For Razor's company, they called it the Hovertrax.
With sales spiking as hover boards continue to sell, despite their new safety concerns, hover boards may be the 2016 version of the 2000 Razor Scooter.
