I wanted to point out a technological change in our lives in a simple illustration.
I never used a quill pen for serious writing. Though I have used one for calligraphy.
I did use a metal dip pen early in my life. I used an ink filled pen for a decade.
Quill pens were in use for roughly 1300 years until the American Civil War.
Metal dip pens were used for the next 70 years.
Ink filled pens were used from the First WW until the late 1960s. About 40 years.
Ballpoint pens were in serious use thereafter until e-mail made them far less important. Roughly 30 years.
While the transitions are shortening the big steps in technology are more impressive.
In each step there are fewer objects involved. A quill, a knife, a big jar of ink and a small jar of ink.
Finally there is one universal object, some form of computer, that includes the previous Quill pen and ink.
