When Getting Connected was Difficult

(at least compared to today’s standards)

One of the skills that I learned as a teenager was to stretch the truth when it meets my needs.  Recently, my wife asked if I had cleaned the computer area / museum and, of course, my answer was yes.  If the truth be known, the centre of the room is well vacuumed.  The artifacts around the room did have a layer or two of dust though.  It’s generally not too bad; I keep a Swiffer handy to clean off the keyboard and monitor should breathing become laboured.  I actually blew my scheme when I went looking for a replacement for the Swiffer and couldn’t really answer why except to spill the beans.

It really was a job that needed to be done.  Cable management was truly a thing of the past.

To push me over the top, we had enjoyed this Pinterest page last night.  http://www.pinterest.com/sandybiven/do-you-remember/

Like most computer people (you, perhaps?)  I have kept every manual for every device of software that I’ve ever owned.  It really is an impressive collection.  That’s also a sign of datedness.  Nobody ships manuals anymore.  They’re available on external media or online or things are so intuitive that you really don’t need a manual.

Life wasn’t always that easy to be connected.  I’ve mentioned before but I used to run a Bulletin Board System as a hobby and turned a section of it into what we now call an LMS for those of my students who were connected at home.  Now, this was pre-internet times – I had purchased a second phone line just for computer use and students would have their computer call mine.

As I was cleaning the museum today, I did find a very dusty tool that was key to it.  I wondered out loud if I would even be able to remember how to connect it, how to program it, or even where to find a piece of software to run it.  As I was cleaning, I flipped it over and saw that I didn’t need the manual.

and zooming in…

I can’t believe that there was a time when I had all of this committed to memory!

So, here’s today’s test.  Did you study?

• What is the device?
• Who was the manufacturer?
• How fast did it run?
• Why can’t I connect it to this laptop computer?
• Why on earth does Doug keep it around?

Actually, I’ll answer the last question…I use it as a bookend for the top shelf over top my workspace!