Final answer:
Compact disc players, which use laser to read data stored in form of bumps and pits on a CD, became prevalent in the 1990s due to their larger storage capacity, effectively replacing cassette tapes. The advent of CDs marked the immense technological advancements made during this era, alongside GPS devices, hybrid cars, and online platforms.
Step-by-step explanation:
The advances in technology have significantly improved the availability and effectiveness of compact disc players over time. Compact disc (CD) players read digital information stored on a CD using a laser. A CD is a plastic disc with small "bumps" and "pits" near its surface, encoding binary data along a very thin, spiraling track. These bumps and pits are decoded with the help of an infrared laser beam.
CDs began replacing cassette tapes in the 1990s due to their larger storage capacity. An entire encyclopedia can be stored on a CD, which is read by having a solid-state infrared laser beam scatter from the pits as the CD spins. These music CDs have become so prevalent that vinyl records are considered quaint antiquities today.
Moreover, other technological enhancements such as GPS tracking devices, hybrid vehicles, and the advent of text messaging and user-generated encyclopedias on the Web also revolutionized technology in the early 2000s.
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