Do You Remember Computers BEFORE The Internet..1980s Mainly?

The technology of the future will involve being able to get online without a computer I think. I saw a You Tube video last year some time of a guy who has invented a way to pull up a computer screen on any surface through the use of sensors and a camera/projector device around his neck. He was able to take photos with his hands and project the image onto a wall within seconds! I don't think Terminator will be doing that somehow!

Isn't Microsoft developing some device whereby you use your hand as a "screen?" All very weird if you ask me but it's scary thinking about what's coming out next!

Hello there! I agree with you, the next 10 years will see some huge developments with computers because we rely on them more and more which is actually quite scary when you think about it. So long as a Terminator type robot doesn't come prancing down our street shooting everybody I'll be quite happy. Haha!

What an entertaining response, thank you very much! I can tell you really like computers and you probably had a 6th sense what was coming all those years ago, looking at that huge machine with the reels spinning around! No wonder you got hooked after seeing those in action, they are fascinating, I agree. I can see 3D computers coming. What do you think of that technology? I can see it being great for gaming but everyday telly watching? Not too sure about that, I'd love to hear your views on it my friend.

3-D technology might be interesting once they get it all tweaked out. I can see where it'd make interactive role playing games more interesting though. At first I didn't think that it'd be something really needed, or even used that much. But then thinking on it more, I could see useful applications for viewing something like art galleries, or arboretums and such. It would add that extra dimension that makes it look more realistic. I'm not sure I'd want it for everyday tv watching. Sure, it'd make the programs more realistic looking, but I'd probably only really appreciate that in movies (and if I had one of those giant screen tv's) I'm sure too that once the technology of it gets tweaked and comes down in price, it'll be more appealing to everybody and it will be just as normal as when color tvs first came out. (side note: when color tv first came out I didn't like it. I was so used to black and white that the color and brightness really bothered my eyes lol) Just like when they came out with cd disk for computers (and floppy disks became obsolete), so will regular old 2D tv (as it advances into 3D technology) make those old tvs obsolete. Have a nice day Janey!

I know what you mean about the early colour televisions. We didn't get one until at least 1979. Round the corner from us they had a Redifusion lol. My Dad bought a Ferguson (now called Thomson I think) and it was hideous. I blame that TV for making me have to wear glasses, it was so bright. I used to tweak it when my Dad was out of the room and when he found out he'd go ballistic! Of course, in those days it had to be altered on the telly itself, no remotes back then! This is why I like brands such as Sony and Panasonic. It's not a snobby thing at all, I just think they have always had the most natural colours. I really cannot understand people who don't tweak their televisions and have them on the factory setting. I loved messing about with Mum's new Sony recently as there were allsorts of settings on it but it was easy to use (something else I like about the brand) so I didn't mind taking my time finding the right setting for her..that goes for the sound too. No doubt the in-laws will watch Emmerdale in HD then go to bed as they always go about 8pm. No Sky Sports, no Sky Movies. Waste of time if you ask me! God, if we had it Sky Sports would be watched even more than it is already. I know I've not mentioned 3D but - until the dark glasses are ditched I can't see it catching on. People have only just got used to HD and 3D is a gimmick ready for the World Cup. However, there is a pub down the street that is one of the pubs picked by Sky to play football matches (when broadcast) in 3D. Unfortunately, though, Sky doesn't follow the World Cup so we're not likely to pile down there and watch their set anytime soon!

I took typing in high school along with data processing classes. I do rember the electric typwritters. I am glad I took typeing in school becae it was a skill that would come in handy one day.

Thanks for keeping this discussion alive. Yes, I remember data processing in College and it wasn't the fastest method..in fact using electronic typewriters was a lot easier and more reliable in those days!

They are truely advanced now aren't they friends? My husband is a Graphic Designer and they all use Macs at work as their weapon of choice, so to speak. The screens are something to behold colour-wise although I did see a Macbook in a shop and was a bit perturbed to find that the glass-fronted screen wasn't non-reflective which I thought was incredible considering the price of it.

someone gave us an apple IIE in about 1995. It was an excellent little machine. Sadly the mouse for it from apple was about £50 and we found it was frustrating to use the 'joystick' that was with it as it lacked control. It was impressive though for its age.

Aaah yes, you have jogged my memory, thank you! The days before the mouse was used all the time. Arrow keys, yes, I remember that. I once went for an interview and the panel was quite perturbed that I didn't use Windows (we had an operating system called OfficePower at work then) and I DIDN'T USE A MOUSE! Really? How odd! Use it all the time now of course!

Good thing that computers now are way lot easier. And we depend much on using the mouse. Ha ha

Welcome to MyLot! To be honest, the computer I mention was from the Dark Ages lol. Therefore it is no longer around as it was used at work anyway. All I remember is the black screen, green writing and printers that took an age to load with perforated paper that kept coming off.

Hi Janey, Very happpy to meet you online and thank you for your reply. The first computer in the world is called ENIAC, who is very big, very expensive and very slow but it is a big break through for humankind. In 1980's the IBM and Apple company brought out new and smaller computer, which is suit for home. At that time the computer is also an expensive consumption goods for person. But now it costs you no more than one thousand dollars to buy a better one. I like it. All the best. Your friends, jxndwl

That's true enough. I remember - but the time we got the computer up and running in our lesson at College, we had about 10 minutes of the lesson left!

Haha! It's funny how all VDU literature was about how green type was good for the eyes...there was nothing else at the time! I don't know anybody who actually chooses to type in green on Word or whatever. What I've done on this site, however, is to change the background colour to an aqua blue. Unfortunately, this box I am typing in now still has a white background but at least it's not green type on black lol.

It WAS 100 years ago technology-wise. Things are moving too fast. I mean we've only just got used to HDTV (not in this household but the in-laws are getting an HD box so they can use their HDTV properly..well, they would) and Sky keep going on about 3DTV now. I can't keep up! As for old computers, I don't half remember them getting dusty quick. I don't know why but they did!

I don't think you'd be too impressed...intrigued maybe, but not impressed with their "performance" if you can call it that. We didn't know any different back then.

I know what you mean about computers in schools. They just started introducing them small-scale when I left in 1982! So all my computer experience has been in the workplace. Electronic typewriters are very rarely used nowadays but I thought they were brilliant when they first came out!

The clunky keyboards are what I remember most about old computers...and the fact they weren't very fast. We coped though because we didn't know any different in those days.

It will be interesting to think what the internet generation will think, say 20 years from now. I reckon holograms will come into effect; touch-screen technology will probably become mainstream and people will laugh at our old-fashioned computer screens we have now! Scary thought!

Yes, my nephew still has his Sega Mega Drives I and II. Sometimes he gets quite nostaglic about them but he has his Sony Playstation now so they are probably stored away too!

I could play Space Invaders on my pocket calculator! I was so addicted to that game. More points, more points!!

I have used Gateway computers at work in the past and I thought they were brilliant. Never, ever crashed. I also remember the internet when it was dial-up (so slow and crashed a lot, especially AOL lol) and before I got a comp myself I used a friend's computer to look up something on the internet for an hour costing her 1p a minute. That would be 1998, somewhere around that time. How things have changed since then!

My nephew loved his Segas and has a Sony Playstation now but I can tell he prefers the mega-drive because it was so fun to use. Way ahead of its time and he still has them as far as I know. He used to smack the controller down onto the floor whenever he got frustrated with a game and it never, ever broke. So robust, thankfully! Haha!

Yes, I have heard of the Spectrum. Wow, I can see why you liked it having 16 colours, that would be sooo advanced for the time, wouldn't it? I've never been a big fan of floppy discs to be honest and all that backing-up of files used to do my head in (at work) which is probably why my own computer crashed recently as I don't back anything up onto CD. I really should.

We don't half take our computers for granted nowadays! It was so difficult doing ANYTHING on the old comps. We must've had lots and lots of patience...er, and TIME!