Technology is the equalizer. Technology’s constant march of progress brings us a stream of new products and improvements on ways of doing business. We often think the latest and greatest technologies are drop in replacements obsoleting what’s come before. We get a new iPhone, and sell or giveaway our old one. We ditch over-the-air TV for cable. We ditch cable for satellite. We ditch cable and satellite for streaming.

Our belief;at theSync and our friends at WWNC, is some technologies are irreplaceable and we shouldn’t be too hasty to get rid of them. They are timeless technologies.

Today, we highlight a few timeless technologies and why we shouldn’t obsolete them to a museum.

AM Radio (OTA Broadcasting)

Hurricane Helene and its aftermath are a true case study arguing for the continuation of AM radio. During the run up, punch, and aftermath of Helene, Asheville, North Carolinians relied on AM radio to get storm information and find much needed aid.

For 7 days, Western North Carolina relied on WWNC and other AM stations for information relating to the storm. Mudslides and uncontrollable flooding rendered power and communications lines ineffective. No lines in the sky brought Internet and phone communications to a halt.

Asheville and the West tuned in to WWNC in their cars, homes, and on battery powered radios for news and updates.

Know what else is great about over-the-air broadcasting and terrestrial radio? You can pair it with other technologies. WWNC broadcast 7 other radio programs after the storm by connecting the station to a Starlink satellite antenna. Starlink’s satellite Internet service streamed programming from the Internet and WWNC broadcast it to Western North Carolina.

Analog Thermostats

I dumped my old fashioned, LED-screened, mercury switched thermostat for a Nest thermostat some time ago. My house hasn’t been the temperature I really wanted ever since. The built-in automation of the thermostat has improved costs. El Good is constantly switching hot and cold as soon as it thinks my house is temperate. However, Summer in DC is almost unbearable without A/C. I’m totally up for paying a premium to stay cool during summer months. My house is comfortable, but I miss the ice box it was when the old thermostat clicked in.

Analog Watches

Smart watches are cool, but they can’t beat analog. Smartwatches tell the time, weather, and your text messages. They do many things very well…when they have a charge. As of 2023, Quartz watches still make up 71% of global watch sales, and keep supremely accurate time with minimal battery swaps. You can argue some analog watches don’t keep time as accurately as smartwatches. Mechanical watches like the one I’m wearing are off a few seconds a month and need resetting. However, my mechanical watch operates with no battery and is powered by movement.

Traditional watches are beautiful pieces of art. Most will last years with an occasional battery replacement or tune up. Admit it, how many smartwatches have you purchased, lifetime? I’ve bought 3 Apple Watches since I’ve been buying them.

I’ve purchased one Omega Seamaster Automatic, and it’s risen in value.

What are some timeless technologies you think will last through the ages? What technologies do you miss that should make a comeback? Share your thoughts in the comments.