Abstract

Today we take for granted all the automation around us, But in about the last 50 years we have gone from room size computers to cell phones, computers that fit in our pockets. Sound was analog, pictures and movies were on photographic film, TV was seen on a glass tube, phones were analogue, and most writing was on paper.

What components, methods, and technologies are responsible for these changes? Come with me as we learn how electronics have revolutionized out world. What is under the covers in both hardware and software that makes our modern life possible.

This will be a wide ranging discussion of not only what changed, but why and how it has impacted our lives.

The Analog World

Lets start by looking back at the world about 1974. 50 years ago pretty much everything around us was analog. Whether it was the sound we heard, the pictures we view, the phone calls we made, or the TV we watched.

Lets take a few minutes to review how things worked in that world.

The Written word

Writing has been around for a very long time. The printed word didn’t start until the print press, expanded the availability of books. But a printing press is not something you would use at home or in the office.

So back in 1974 we were creating printed words on paper with the type writer.

Here is a video about how to use a typewriter.

And now for the more adventurous here is an explanation about how a typewriter actually works.

Filling systems and Indexes

Remember the manila folders that you keep your business records in. Remember what happened if a filing cabinet drawer got dumped on the floor?

We can see how to file papers. But in the process we need to create a method of finding what we are looking for. Althought it is implied in filing systems, the real key is the index method.

Communication by written documents in the Post

Even though we still exchange some documents on paper, many documents are exchanges via email.

We have had the Western Union messages when we wanted to send a telegram to someone. But much of our written communication was done via letters or mailed documents.

Encyclopedia

How many of us spent hours in the library looking up information. Maybe you were lucky and had an encyclopedia at home. But we often spent hours finding information in the encyclopedia for classes or maybe just our own interest.

Not all of these boards have gone away, but the majority have been replaced with an electronic version.

Publishing

The number and diversity of documents have been moved online. Whether it is a news paper, a technical document, or a personal memo. The cost of self publishing has fallen and the ability to bypass traditional publishing houses have exploded.

Once you finish your masterpiece, you do not need to get a literary agent. send your manuscript to multiple publishers, spend weeks to years trying to get published.

A simple example is this talk. I am able to research it online, write it on my home computer, and publish it to a web server that can be seen all over the world. Not only am I able to create a talk in my own home, I am able to tap into information, drawings, video, and other resources online without needing to license the use of their material. There is an implied agreement from people like me who publish works online that it is free to use, as long as the author is given credit.

Advice on writing your own book

I found this a funny look at how to publish your own book.

Drafting and Engineering drawings

How many of you learned to use a drafting table, with the squares, triangles, french curves, and large erasers. Remember trying not to smudge your drawings. Remember blue print and mimeograph machines.

Sound

The sounds we hear are caused by the movement of air around us. For a more detailed understanding have a look at my talk: Intro to Sound

The Phonograph

Some of you probable remember the LP record, But for those who don’t here is and example.

The Tape Recorder

Some of us were involved in recording and playing back on magnetic tape. The most common tape players was the cassette recorder.

Pictures

Back in 1974 most pictures were recorded on photographic film. This was a chemical process of exposing special film to light to cause a change in the coating. The image was a reverse of the light and dark on a negative. Once the negative was developed it was then printed on photo paper. The most common film was the 35 mm size.