From vinyl records to flip phones to digital cameras, younger generations are rediscovering the charm of old school media. To explore what’s driving this return to retro tech, we spoke with Tina Ashford, associate professor of information technology and curator of Middle Georgia State University’s Museum of Technology. She shares her thoughts on the appeal of vinyl, the sensory experience of retro media, and what these comeback trends reveal about our connection to technology.
"I think we’re feeling some fatigue from the instant, infinite access of digital life. It’s amazing to have every song ever recorded at our fingertips, but we’ve lost the intentionality that came with choosing an album, setting it on the turntable, and just listening. Vinyl demands your attention, slows you down and turns music into an event. That’s part of its modern appeal. I also think people are craving authenticity and permanence. In a world where everything lives in the cloud and can disappear without notice, owning a physical object feels comforting."
