Maybe you grew up with a telephone on the wall? A party line? A "dial"phone?
Look what Jim Hamm found. " Here's an interesting article about how technology moves along and replaces a variety of devices. In this article the author shows how a smartphone replaces 20 gadgets one could buy at Radio Shack about 20 years ago -- and carry their replacement in a shirt pocket or purse.

"As another example, the mobile phone has virtually replaced public telephones -- the ones you used to see on street corners around town, but are now practically gone."

And Jim's pronouncement: "Technology is wonderful, unless you happen to be on the receiving end of technological obsolescence."