The Undying Legacy of Pagers: A Blast from the Past or a Recipe for Disaster?
As we revel in the era of smartphones, pagers – those ancient relics of the 90s – seem to be making a comeback. But is this a nostalgic trip down memory lane or a harbinger of chaos? The answer lies in the dark alleys of Lebanon, where thousands of pagers detonated simultaneously, killing nine and wounding nearly 3,000 others.
But before we delve into the sinister side of pagers, let’s explore their "resurgence" in the healthcare sector. Apparently, these outdated devices are still the go-to for doctors and nurses in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), with a staggering 130,000 pagers in use in 2019. The reasons are simple: pagers are cheap, efficient, and can send out a siren and voice message to entire medical teams, making them more effective than smartphones in emergency situations.
However, this nostalgic appeal comes with a catch. Pagers are notoriously hard to track, making them a favorite among criminals. As former FBI agent Ken Gray puts it, "Criminals changed with the times and newer technology. They all went to cellphones, burner phones." Gray’s words echo the reality that pagers are now a relic of the past, a symbol of a bygone era.
But the pagers’ popularity persists, with the global market projected to grow at a compound annual rate of 5.9% from 2023 to 2030. North America and Europe are the driving forces behind this growth, generating $528-million and $496-million in revenue respectively. The question is, why are we clinging to these outdated devices when smartphones have made communication faster, more efficient, and more secure?
The answer lies in the dark corners of the world, where pagers are still used by militant groups like Hezbollah. The detonation of thousands of pagers in Lebanon serves as a grim reminder of the devastating consequences of relying on outdated technology. It’s a wake-up call that highlights the importance of embracing newer, more secure technologies.
So, the next time you see a pager, don’t romanticize it as a blast from the past. Instead, recognize it for what it is: a relic of a bygone era, a symbol of the dangers of clinging to outdated technology. The world has moved on, and it’s time for pagers to join the dustbin of history.
