Discussion:  On October 1, 1982, Billy Joel’s “52nd Street” was released commercially onto CD.  When the first CD player was released that same day, it was described as a “new digital record player, using laser beams.”  Before the end of the decade, CDs would overtake the cassette tape in popularity.  Today, compact discs remain popular, but are losing ground to both MP3’s and streaming music.

Source:  CNN News

Date:  October 2, 2012

Link:  http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/28/tech/innovation/compact-disc-turns-30/index.html

Discussion Questions:

• Since 1982, our society has undergone many technological advances like the cellular telephone becoming pervasive, as well as the implementation of the home computer.  Yet, we are still using the CD, which is now 30 years old.  Why hasn’t this medium advanced at the same speed as other areas of technology?
• How soon until CDs and CD players become obsolete?