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Posted on Jul 9, 2013

26 Sounds That Are Almost Extinct

The way that the world sounds is constantly changing. Here are some sounds that will be completely foreign to your kids (and might already be mysteries to you).

by Johnny LaRue

Community Contributor

Children, there was a time when we weren't always on the internet. This is what it sounded like when we connected to the World Wide Web.

Children, there was a time when we weren't always on the internet. This is what it sounded like when we connected to the World Wide Web.

Before phones were smart, mobile, cordless, or touchtone, they were rotary. There's a reason they call it dialing a number; once upon a time, actual dialing was involved. — Before phones were smart, mobile, cordless, or touchtone, they were rotary. There's a reason they call it dialing a number; once upon a time, actual dialing was involved.

Before phones were smart, mobile, cordless, or touchtone, they were rotary. There's a reason they call it dialing a number; once upon a time, actual dialing was involved.

In a time before streaming video, we would rent video tapes from brick-and-mortar businesses. These rental businesses would implore us to "be kind, rewind" – put the video tape back on the first spool once we were done watching the video. — In a time before streaming video, we would rent video tapes from brick-and-mortar businesses. These rental businesses would implore us to "be kind, rewind" – put the video tape back on the first spool once we were done watching the video.

In a time before streaming video, we would rent video tapes from brick-and-mortar businesses. These rental businesses would implore us to "be kind, rewind" – put the video tape back on the first spool once we were done watching the video.

Back when email was in its infancy, we would dial into America Online ("AOL" for those in the know), and this disembodied voice would tell us whether or not we had unread messages.

Back when email was in its infancy, we would dial into America Online ("AOL" for those in the know), and this disembodied voice would tell us whether or not we had unread messages.

Static, or "noise," was created back on analog TVs when the antenna was unable to receive a viable transmission signal. The black/white static pattern was generally caused by radio waves and electromagnetic background radiation signals.

Static, or "noise," was created back on analog TVs when the antenna was unable to receive a viable transmission signal. The black/white static pattern was generally caused by radio waves and electromagnetic background radiation signals.

We're in an increasingly-digital world. Remember when we used non-mechanical pencils? And remember when we used non-motorized pencil sharpeners? We would stick the pencil in this tinny contraption with "Boston" embossed on it, and rotate a crank to sharpen our writing utensils to a point.

We're in an increasingly-digital world. Remember when we used non-mechanical pencils? And remember when we used non-motorized pencil sharpeners? We would stick the pencil in this tinny contraption with "Boston" embossed on it, and rotate a crank to sharpen our writing utensils to a point.

Back in the day, phones had bells in them. When someone was on the other end trying to contact you, the bell inside your phone would ring. Crazy times.

Back in the day, phones had bells in them. When someone was on the other end trying to contact you, the bell inside your phone would ring. Crazy times.

It came at a time when printing was so foreign a concept that we needed to explain that your printout would be created via a literal matrix of dots.

It came at a time when printing was so foreign a concept that we needed to explain that your printout would be created via a literal matrix of dots.

Oddly, TV shows still frequently have laugh tracks or applause (even if the shows aren't filmed live). Yet the audible "awwwww" seen in clips like this seems to be a thing entirely of the past.

Oddly, TV shows still frequently have laugh tracks or applause (even if the shows aren't filmed live). Yet the audible "awwwww" seen in clips like this seems to be a thing entirely of the past.

Back when cameras used real film, we had to physically wind up the film to (a) load the camera and (b) advance the film after snapping a photo.

Back when cameras used real film, we had to physically wind up the film to (a) load the camera and (b) advance the film after snapping a photo.

We used to literally turn pages that were bound together by a hardcover book spine. When we first opened the book, the spine would crack. Here's what it sounded like.

We used to literally turn pages that were bound together by a hardcover book spine. When we first opened the book, the spine would crack. Here's what it sounded like.

We would get the news delivered to our homes once a day – printed on large sheets of crinkly, noisy paper. We'd also get ink on our fingers.

We would get the news delivered to our homes once a day – printed on large sheets of crinkly, noisy paper. We'd also get ink on our fingers.

Back when radio was widely used, radios had dials. You'd have to use a little bit of finesse to find just the right radio frequency.

Back when radio was widely used, radios had dials. You'd have to use a little bit of finesse to find just the right radio frequency.

We kept time with finely-calibrated analog machinery. When we set an alarm on the clock, a tiny little hammer would bounce back and forth striking two bells until we stopped it.

We kept time with finely-calibrated analog machinery. When we set an alarm on the clock, a tiny little hammer would bounce back and forth striking two bells until we stopped it.

One of the most annoying things ever. And Tony Soprano hates when it happens.

One of the most annoying things ever. And Tony Soprano hates when it happens.

The best part of waking up.

The best part of waking up.

Short ads like this would air at movie theaters (or drive-in theaters) to provide audiences with the chance to use the restroom and buy refreshments without missing any of the film. A great idea, if I do say so myself.

Short ads like this would air at movie theaters (or drive-in theaters) to provide audiences with the chance to use the restroom and buy refreshments without missing any of the film. A great idea, if I do say so myself.

Landlines aren't so common anymore. Seriously, when was the last time you picked up a phone and heard a dial tone?

Landlines aren't so common anymore. Seriously, when was the last time you picked up a phone and heard a dial tone?

Once upon a time, this is how files were stored and shared. These bad boys could hold a whole 1.44 MB.

Once upon a time, this is how files were stored and shared. These bad boys could hold a whole 1.44 MB.

When you go to the movie theater nowadays, the "film" (it's not really film anymore) is projected digitally. But that wasn't always the case (as you know if you went to the movies just a few years ago and sat by the projection booth). — When you go to the movie theater nowadays, the "film" (it's not really film anymore) is projected digitally. But that wasn't always the case (as you know if you went to the movies just a few years ago and sat by the projection booth).

When you go to the movie theater nowadays, the "film" (it's not really film anymore) is projected digitally. But that wasn't always the case (as you know if you went to the movies just a few years ago and sat by the projection booth).

Scientists are now estimating that due to global warming, the polar bear will be extinct in a matter of decades, with two-thirds of the species wiped out by 2050.

Scientists are now estimating that due to global warming, the polar bear will be extinct in a matter of decades, with two-thirds of the species wiped out by 2050.

Before Spotify, iTunes, or even CD players, we carried around machines that played magnetized tapes with our favorite songs encoded on them. This is what using one such machine – the walkman – sounded like.

Before Spotify, iTunes, or even CD players, we carried around machines that played magnetized tapes with our favorite songs encoded on them. This is what using one such machine – the walkman – sounded like.

Now that Google has switched to Hangouts, the gchat notification we all knew and loved has been swept aside.

Now that Google has switched to Hangouts, the gchat notification we all knew and loved has been swept aside.

Decades ago, in an era before cable, TV stations would go off the air late at night and return to broadcast early in the morning. Signing off, they would generally play the national anthem (note: Canada's CBC still does this, which is one of the many reasons Canada is awesome).

Decades ago, in an era before cable, TV stations would go off the air late at night and return to broadcast early in the morning. Signing off, they would generally play the national anthem (note: Canada's CBC still does this, which is one of the many reasons Canada is awesome).

It's a great, comforting sound. Don Draper would approve.

It's a great, comforting sound. Don Draper would approve.

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