The modifiers

Technology doesn’t need to die. So much of our consumer habits frame old gadgets, instruments, and concepts as disposable. So The Verge wanted to talk to small businesses, creators, and fans across the world who have a different view. In this week-long series, we explore unexpected repurposing — and the remix of the old with […]

Apr 8, 2025 - 16:05

Technology doesn’t need to die. So much of our consumer habits frame old gadgets, instruments, and concepts as disposable. So The Verge wanted to talk to small businesses, creators, and fans across the world who have a different view.

In this week-long series, we explore unexpected repurposing — and the remix of the old with the new. In New Delhi, technicians are saving e-waste by giving it new life in refurbished laptops. On an island in Bermuda, conservationists are hacking GoPro cameras. On the internet, dedicated forums are keeping a 22-year-old video game alive with new mods, and TikTokers are spicing up literary genres. From Kyrgyzstan to Kansas, these are the modifiers who don’t let go, but look forward.