# Orphaned technology > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Orphaned_technology > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Orphaned_technology.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_technology > Source revision: 1353749855 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Technology abandoned by the original developers}} [[File:Intel C43201-5 chip (15597750510).jpg|thumb|An [Intel iAPX 432](/source/Intel_iAPX_432) processor, abandoned due to performance issues]] '''Orphaned technology''' refers to [computer technologies](/source/Computer_Technology) that have been abandoned by their original developers. Not to be confused with [deprecation](/source/deprecation), a gradual shift to newer technology; orphaned technology is usually abandoned abruptly or without a direct replacement.{{Cite web |last=Leckie |first=Cameron |date= 15 October 2010|title=The abandonment of technology |url=https://www.resilience.org/stories/2010-10-16/abandonment-technology/ |access-date=2023-06-03 |website=resilience |language=en-US}} Unlike [abandonware](/source/abandonware), orphaned technology refers to [software](/source/software), [hardware](/source/Computer_hardware), and the practices around them. Users of orphaned technologies must often choose between continuing to use the technology, which may become less maintainable over time, or switch to supported technologies, possibly losing capabilities unique to the orphaned technology.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} == Reasoning == While technology can be abandoned due to an unfavourable design or poor implementation, abandoning a technology can happen for a variety of reasons. There are instances where products are phased out of the market because they are no longer viable as business ventures, such as certain medical technologies.{{Cite book|title=Biomedical Engineering Principles, Second Edition|last1=Ritter|first1=Arthur|last2=Hazelwood|first2=Vikki|last3=Valdevit|first3=Antonio|last4=Ascione|first4=Alfred|date=2011|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=9781439812334|location=Boca Raton, FL|pages=457}} Some orphaned technologies do not suffer complete abandonment or obsolescence. For instance, IBM's [Silicon Germanium](/source/Silicon-germanium) (SiGe) program produced an ''in situ'' doped alloy to replace the implantation step of the silicon semiconductor bipolar process. The technology was orphaned but was reused by a small team at IBM, becoming a leading product in high-volume communications.{{Cite book |last1=Singh |first1=Raminderpal |url=https://archive.org/details/silicongermanium00sing |title=Silicon Germanium: Technology, Modeling, and Design |last2=Oprysko |first2=Modest |last3=Harame |first3=David |date=2004 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |isbn=047144653X |location=Hoboken, NJ |pages=[https://archive.org/details/silicongermanium00sing/page/n70 40] |url-access=limited}} Technologies orphaned due to their developers' failure can be adopted by new investors. One example is Wink, an [IoT platform](/source/Internet_of_things) orphaned when its parent company [Quirky](/source/Quirky_(company)) filed for bankruptcy. However, the platform continued after its purchase by, Flex.{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Connected World |date=October 2018 |title=October 2018: Abandoned Tech: When IoT Devices and Solutions Get Left Behind |url=https://connectedworld.com/when-iot-devices-and-solutions-get-left-behind/ |access-date=2019-07-16 |website=Connected World |language=en}} == Examples == Some examples of orphaned technology include: * [Apple Lisa](/source/Apple_Lisa) - 16/32-bit graphical computer * [Apple Newton PDA](/source/Apple_Newton) (Apple Newton) - tablet computer * [Apple Classic Mac OS](/source/Classic_Mac_OS) - [m68k](/source/m68k) and [PowerPC](/source/PowerPC) operating system * [Coleco ADAM](/source/Coleco_ADAM) - 8-bit [home computer](/source/home_computer) * [DEC Alpha](/source/DEC_Alpha) - 64-bit [microprocessor](/source/microprocessor) * [Finale (scorewriter)](/source/Finale_(scorewriter)) [music notation software](/source/scorewriter) developed by MakeMusic from 1988 until 2024{{Cite web |last=Dell'Era |first=Greg |date=2024-08-26 |title=The End of Finale |url=https://www.finalemusic.com/blog/end-of-finale-new-journey-dorico-letter-from-president/ |access-date=2024-09-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240826134958/https://www.finalemusic.com/blog/end-of-finale-new-journey-dorico-letter-from-president/ |archive-date=August 26, 2024 |url-status=live|website=Finale |language=en-US}} * [HyperCard](/source/HyperCard) - hypermedia * [ICAD (KBE)](/source/ICAD_(software)) - knowledge-based engineering * [Javelin Software](/source/Javelin_Software) - modeling and data analysis * [LISP machines](/source/LISP_machines) - LISP oriented computers * [Mattel Aquarius](/source/Mattel_Aquarius) * [Microsoft Bob](/source/Microsoft_Bob) - graphical helper * [Mosaic notation program](/source/Mosaic_notation_program) - music notation application by [Mark of the Unicorn](/source/Mark_of_the_Unicorn)(19 August 2008). [http://www.sibelius.com/cgi-bin/helpcenter/chat/chat.pl?com=thread&start=195426&groupid=3&&guest=1 Request by Sibelius users for a Mosaic to Sibelius conversion application]. [Sibelius (software)](/source/Sibelius_(software)) * [Open Music System](/source/Open_Music_System) - [Gibson](/source/Gibson_(guitar_company))(2 September 2009). [https://www.cnet.com/uk/news/opcode-web-site-finally-taken-down/ Opcode Web site finally taken down]. [CNET](/source/CNET) * [OpenDoc](/source/OpenDoc) - compound documents ([Mac OS](/source/Mac_OS), [OS/2](/source/OS%2F2)) * [Poly-1](/source/Poly-1) - parallel networked computer designed in New Zealand for education and training * [Prograph](/source/Prograph) - visual programming system * [TI 99/4A](/source/TI_99%2F4A) - 16-bit [home computer](/source/home_computer) * [Windows 9x](/source/Windows_9x) - x86 operating system Symbolics Inc's operating systems, [Genera](/source/Genera_(operating_system)) and OpenGenera, were twice orphaned, as they were ported from [LISP machines](/source/LISP_machines) to computers using the [Alpha](/source/DEC_Alpha) [64-bit](/source/64-bit) CPU.{{explain|date=May 2014}} == User groups == User groups often exist for specific orphaned technologies, such as The [Hong Kong](/source/Hong_Kong) [Newton](/source/Apple_Newton) User Group,{{cite web |url=http://www.crmloyalty.com/hknug/ |title=Reliving Hong Kong Newton User Group |access-date=2006-09-27 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311170255/http://www.crmloyalty.com/hknug/ |archive-date=2007-03-11 }} Symbolics Lisp [Machines] Users' Group (now known as the Association of Lisp Users),{{cite web|url=http://www.alu.org/alu/about|title=About Us|publisher=Association of Lisp Users|access-date=2013-06-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130121140804/http://www.alu.org/alu/about|archive-date=2013-01-21|url-status=dead}} and Newton Reference.{{cite web|url=http://www.panix.com/~clay/newton/ |title=Newton Reference |website=Panix.com |date=1998-02-27 |access-date=2017-04-03}} The [Save Sibelius](/source/Save_Sibelius) group sprang into existence because [Sibelius (scorewriter)](/source/Sibelius_(scorewriter)) users feared the application would be orphaned after its owners [Avid Tech](/source/Avid_Tech) fired most of the development team, who were thereafter hired by [Steinberg](/source/Steinberg) to develop the competing product, [Dorico](/source/Dorico).Clark, Kevin. (15 November 2012). ''[https://nmbx.newmusicusa.org/keeping-score-spreadbury-speaks-on-sibelius-team-transition/ Keeping Score: Spreadbury Speaks on Sibelius Team Transition]''. Publisher: ''New Music USA'' (New York, USA)(20 February 2013). ''[http://cdm.link/2013/02/sibelius-core-team-now-at-steinberg-building-new-notation-tool/ Sibelius Core Team Now at Steinberg, Building New Notation Tool]''. Publisher: ''Create Digital Media'' (Berlin, Germany)Spreadbury, Daniel. (20 February 2013). ''[http://blog.steinberg.net/2013/02/welcome/ Welcome!]''. Publisher: ''[Steinberg](/source/Steinberg)'' (Boston, USA) ==See also== * [Orphan works](/source/Orphan_works) * [Abandonware](/source/Abandonware) * [Planned obsolescence](/source/Planned_obsolescence) ==References== {{Reflist}} Category:Orphaned technology Category:Orphan works Category:Technological change Category:Information technology --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Orphaned technology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_technology) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphaned_technology?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.