Neon colors, weird music, and not least 80s technology are what to come into one’s mind first of the 1980s. It was a decade when gadgets from labs and offices gradually started to appear in people’s homes. If we look at those times from today’s perspective, the technology is mind-bogglingly simple, but for people then the tech, it was revolutionary.
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The Rise of Personal Computers
The basis for 80s technology was, without a doubt, the personal computer. Devices such as Apple II, Commodore 64 and IBM PC turned the tables not only on the way to work but also on the ways of entertainment.
One of the changes these computers made was bringing word processing, games, and programming into people’s houses. Most people would start learning the BASIC language. To the majority of people, this was the first time they could see computer potential skills.
Video Games and Consoles
Among the 80s tech, gaming was another aspect that stirred much interest. In the family room, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and Sega Master System were the two big things everyone talked about. Kids were playing these games for hours, which we thought were so fun, but they never got bored.
Such were the days when going to arcades was in vogue as high-yield was the popularity of arcades. There were games like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and Space Invaders most everywhere. The clinking of coins and the clicking of joysticks were what one could consider youth’s anthems. These games of then may appear pixelated and thus outdated in comparison with today’s super-realistic graphics. Yet back in those days they were like magic.
Music and Portable Devices
Music was just one of the areas where 80’s technology completely changed things. The Walkman made it to the rank of an icon of popular culture. Very quickly, it was possible for individuals to have their music stored on cassette tapes with them anywhere they went. Can you only remember when you first used your headphones on the street—it was incredibly cool, as if the whole world could see you having your own concert.
Boom boxes were) no less popular. Large, noisy, and colorful those gadgets were transforming the streets into dance floors. In addition, this epoch had brought mixtapes into the world as well. For many teenagers, recording songs from the radio was a daily routine.
Communication in the 1980s
Unlike today’s smartphones, 80s technology had landline telephones with long cords. Later on, cordless phones did come but they were large and had a short range. In case another member of the household had picked up the other line, your conversation was instantly overheard.
At the same time fax machines were becoming popular as well. The businesses adapted this technology in order to send documents quickly, which was a great invention compared to snail-mail. While now it might look slow, for the 1980s, it was really fast communication.
The Magic of Television and Media
Television was another big part of 1980s technology. Cable TV was available in almost every household and that gave people the opportunity to switch among the dozens of channels that were at their disposal. MTV, which came into existence in 1981, is a major factor in music people listen to these days. Listening to music videos on repeat became a new craze.
VHS players became available in people’s homes as well. Members of the family could either record shows they wanted to watch later or simply rent movies. Friday nights usually meant a visit to the nearby video store. It was a time that not only gave you entertainment but also made you remember it.
Office and Business Tools
In addition to 80s home gadgets, the 80’s tech innovation had a significant impact on the office as well. Word processors and printers were around and they simply helped workers to perform tasks rapidly. Floppy disks got widely used for data storage and they more or less became the norm in offices. Even though they only had a few megabytes of space, it was a lot for those times.
Moreover, the introduction of calculators and the earliest spreadsheets made an accounting and a finance department a complete transformation. The paper ledgers that were totally trusted before were in a less favorable position because of the technology. The new tools made a fewer number of mistakes and gave businesses half of their valuable time back which was a very considerable cause of companies.
Looking Back at 80s Technology
Looking back at 1980s technology, it almost sounds like one is talking about a world that no longer exists. It was a combination of enthusiasm, surprise, and originality. Of course, in terms of size and speed, the gadgets of the past were less compared to what we have now. Nonetheless, they were the essential building blocks that led to the advancement of the technology we have today.
The moment I experience the typical cassette tape noise or visually apprehend a floppy disk in a museum, I am instantly flooded with memories of the past. It points out the fact that each step forward in the journey of progress is like an incremental movement. Fashion and music would have not been as accessible as they are right now if we didn’t witness all those 80s-era innovative breakthroughs in parallel worlds.
Final Thoughts
It can be said the main feature of 80’s technology was that it represented nothing but crazy genius ideas for that time, and it had a huge impact on the cultural and digital revolution, more or less. This era was the one in which digital technology has become an integral part of people lives, marking the beginning of computers, video games, portable music, and home video entertainment, all in the palm of one’s hand. What is more, on a global scale, the 1980s was the decade turned the world onto the idea that technology was no longer necessarily a cold and impersonal monolith that only a few could understand and use, but it was on its way to becoming fun, personal, and ubiquitous in everyday life.
Years later, every one of us will comprehend that the rapid progression from then to nowadays wouldn’t have happened if it were not for all the 80s tech episodes we lasting repertoires and cassette tapes are hard evidence.
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