The End of the Carousel Slide Projector?

I have just received, through an e-mail discussion list for archeologists, news
that Kodak will discontinue production of the Carousel projector in 2004.
Although the notice I received did not say so, it seems likely that the use of
digital projectors and Powerpoint, especially in business and industry, is to
blame for this.

The notice I recieved contained this:

“Slide projectors continue to be used in many government applications due to
a proven track record of cost-effective, reliable, high-quality image projection.
Combining the seven years of service and support with a long history of
trouble-free operation, means that slide projectors will continue to enjoy many
years of productive use.”

Now, too much can be made of this. Surely there are tens of thousands of
serviceable Carousels at work today, and they won’t be soon junked,
especially as long as the weakest digital projector retails for five times the
price of a Carousel.

For many years, dual Carousels and twin projection screens have been a
hallmark of sessions at the Geological Society of America. I have not been to
a meeting for five years; it is possible, even likely, that digital projection is
replacing analogue images there.

One has to wonder whether physicists and mathematicians would ever give
up their beloved overhead projectors for digital technology.