In this digital age, it’s not surprising that young children are more tech-savvy than most adults due to their constant and early exposure to things like iPads, smartphones and computers.
But technology just a few years ago was a lot more straightforward than the multi-use devices that seem to be taking over the world these days. If you needed to type something up, you would use one specific machine and if you needed to send it off to someone, you would use a completely different one!
Experiencing such a drastic technological advancement in such a short period of time may explain the digital gap between generations, but that doesn’t mean technology wasn’t equally as interesting before all the bells and whistles! Here are just a few of the things Baby Boomers relied on back in day.
Typewriter
Typewriters not only changed the world of scribing, writing and documenting but they kickstarted the technological movement of computers. These simple, yet incredibly useful machines were still in use in the late ’70s and early ’80s for some people who preferred to run old-style offices.
While they have been completely replaced by computers in today’s society, some people still prefer the simplicity of typewriters and would still choose them over a laptop any day.
Fax machines
Before the days when you could easily message anyone you wanted and receive a response in seconds, fax machines were a staple in the everyday office. While more often than not, the experience was quite frustrating, these machines did prove very helpful for sending and receiving important documents.
Floppy disks
Before the days of CDs, USBs and even tiny SD cards, floppy disks were the only way to go. These thin, wobbly squares made working on computers a whole lot easier by letting people transfer and store their important digital files.
Over the years, different storage technologies have gotten smaller and smaller to the point that they no longer exist. Nowadays, you can store all of your information in the elusive cloud or on an online drive whenever you like. But, if you’re still nostalgic for the classic floppy disk, its icon lives on as the ‘save’ button on most computer software!
Film cameras
The beauty of film cameras has now been replaced by the convenience of digital cameras, but no matter what, there will always be something special about film.
Going on holidays wasn’t complete without the hundreds of sometimes blurry or off-centre pictures that had to be taken each time. However, returning home was the fun part when the photos were developed and albums put together. While some people still print out their photos as keepsakes, the loss of film cameras has also meant the lost art of physical photos.
Dial-up modems
Kids today would never understand what a complete struggle and extreme test of patience it was just to connect to the World Wide Web back in the day. While you are always most likely connected to the internet these days, the amount of time it took with dial-up was almost painful, especially if someone called through and broke the connection! If you don’t remember the days of dial-up, search up a recording of what it used to sound like and the familiar noises will send you right back into the past.
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