Dated: 11 of the Most Popular Gadgets At the Time of Your Birth
Gadgets are here to stay, and ever since man has discovered the art of invention, people have been making things out of what is available to them. With technology and science on our side, it is easy to make investments in gadgets that are meant to make life easier for us.
So today, we provide you with a list of the most popular gadgets that were being used the year you were born. Some of you might not have been born yet when the number five on the list was invented, but you sure are still using them today!
Modem – 1958
We know that the telephone revolutionized communications, but it was the modem that blew it out of proportions. The Bell 101 modem was first released commercially by AT&T back in 1958. They are still in use today to connect computers to the internet. They are the literal gateway to the information highway, and you don’t even need gas for it to function.
Portable Television – 1960
There was a time when TVs were these clunky dinosaurs you have to put behind a cabinet. In 1960, however, someone invented the portable TV that allowed people to watch TVs anywhere. Now, we have phones where we can do that and there is no need for TV at all.
The Mouse – 1963
We use computer mice on a daily basis. It may seem like an innocuous piece of technology, but it has actually evolved so much from the one Douglas Engelbart invented back then. For one, that first mouse was made of wood and only had one button. It probably consumed a lot of electricity, too. At one time, they were also fitted with navigation spheres or balls, now they use laser lights to track movements.
Smoke Alarms – 1965
A home security system would not be complete without a smoke alarm. Thanks to Duane D. Pearsall and Stanley B. Peterson for inventing a battery-powered smoke alarm back in 1965. These technological pieces can now be easily installed and replaced even by non-technical people.
Microwave – 1955
Heating up a pizza is now easy due to the microwave. There are other very useful cooking applications as well. Had it not been for Tappan, which released the first commercial microwave back in 1955, cooking would not be that easy.
Videotape Recorder – 1951
Old folks, when instructing us to record something, would say something like, “Tape this for me, please.” This is because in 1951, and for a long time after, recording was done through tape reels. Charles Ginsburg, and the Ampex Corporation was responsible to a great degree for the invention of the videotape recorder.
Pacemaker – 1957
If anyone’s heart beats erratically, the usual solution is medication to stabilize the rhythm. In extreme cases, a pacemaker is needed. Thanks to the inventors of the battery-operated pacemaker back in 1957, they can now be used by patients. Internal pacemakers came shortly after, in 1959.
Picturephone – 1964
Making a video call nowadays is as easy as tapping a button. In the old days, it was thought to be impossible, but Bell Telephone came up with a Picturephone, which the company showcased during the 1964 World’s Fair. The concept was the same—callers can see each other when making a phone call.
Remote Control
When we think of remote controls, we usually think of the wireless one. But when it first came out in 1950, the remote control was attached to the television via long wires. Technically it still is a remote control since the person could be on the sofa while the TV is behind the shelf. Credit also goes to the one who invented the wireless one, of course.
Handheld Calculator – 1967
Before the invention of the calculator, people were the ones who had to do it. They were called “computers” because they computed. Things got easier when Texas Instruments released its version of the handheld calculator, which was portable and could fit in one’s pocket.
Computer Hard Drive – 1956
IBM came up with the first computer hard drive. Back then they were huge and would fit into a room. A lot of electricity is spent on cooling these hard drive rooms. Nowadays, data can be stored in something as small as a thumb.