10 gadgets of the past that changed the world
Devices / / December 19, 2019
Over the past 50 years, humans have invented many useful things, but these devices have become a technological breakthrough.
Today the experienced user is difficult to surprise. Nanotechnology, robotics, and, of course, all kinds of technology for personal use make life much easier. Hard to believe that once the phone is the size of a brick and a USB flash drive 8MB called innovation. But it was they - innovations changed the world forever.
1. Regency TR-1 - the first portable transistor radio
Year of issue: 1954.
Radio in your pocket - it has become possible thanks to the development and IDEA Texas Instruments companies. The transistor radio was worth $ 50, but it did not sell very well. After a couple of years, Sony has released the more commercially successful analog. However, it Regency TR-1 initiated the outdoor rock 'n' roll.
2. Zenith Space Command - the first wireless TV remote control
Year of issue: 1956.
The world's first remote control has been widely used, presented by Zenith Radio Corporation (today - daughter of LG Electronics).
Unlike his predecessors, issued in 1950 and 1955 he was a wireless remote and worked at the expense of high-frequency sound. Pressing the tiny hammer strikes the aluminum rod in the device, thereby emitting ultrasonic signals. Buttons, as well as rods, there were only four: ON / OFF, volume adjustment, channel switch down and up. And so, apparently, the era of laziness.
3. Lear Jet Stereo-8 - the first car radio
Year of issue: 1965.
Vosmitrekovyh tape to tape, which is now the subject of jokes, forever changed music listening in the car. The first players Lear Jet Stereo-8 appeared as an option on vehicles brand Ford, and it was a turning point.
Motorists no longer depended on the radio - now you can enjoy your favorite music during the trip.
But not everything was so smooth: vosmitrekovye tapes were short-lived, sounded bad and take up much space. And in the early 1970s, they were replaced by more compact audio cassette, and later CD-disks.
4. Polaroid SX-70 Land Camera - the first camera instant print
Year of issue: 1972.
Look at the camera, press the button and watch your photo appears. Quite simply limit. compact device the size of seven to four inches - the first camera that gives a ready picture automatically.
No waiting and mechanical manipulation to display the image - it's ready!
The device has become so iconic that even today, in the era of digital photography, many return to the snapshots. And, as in the good old days, hoarding cards with memorable events in albums.
5. Texas Instruments SR-10 - first multifunctional compact calculator
Year of issue: 1973.
That all changed in the early 1970s, when Texas Instruments introduced the first handheld calculator. However, in 1973 the world saw the SR-10 model. This compact device for counting supporting function calculating reciprocals and square roots. It is terrible to imagine how many would have taken lessons in mathematics at school, if not for this invention.
6. Sony Walkman TPS-L2 - the first cassette music player and the world's first lightweight headphones
Year of issue: 1979.
Player Sony Walkman TPS-L2 - the beginning of a new era in the world of electronics. Portable device with a classic design has won the hearts of music lovers around the world. In addition, the company made the first audio player with two connectors for headphones. That helped get rid of anti-social music player status.
7. Motorola DynaTAC 8000X - the first portable cell phone
Year of issue: 1983.
The DynaTAC, affectionately referred to as brick weighed more than a kilogram, and cost 3995 dollars. But now it was possible to talk on the phone and do not depend on the wire. "Bricks" have enough food for a whole hour of calls and memory to store 30 numbers. No cloud storage, only hardcore. And yet at the time the device was an object of envy.
8. Nintendo Game Boy - a portable gaming device
Year of issue: 1989.
The compact game console immediately became the object of dreams of millions of children around the world. The first Game Boy was equipped with a monochrome display and is available in a design with a gray body. Later, the more powerful and compact version with a larger and have a color display.
9. Sony DCR-VX1000 - the first digital video camera format mini-DV
Year of issue: 1995.
DCR-VX1000 from Sony is the first camera to shoot video in miniDV format and allowing the transfer of recording on the PC. Worth 4000 dollars the device, but saves thousands of dollars that used to take to digitize analog personnel.
Video quality was significantly better than that of its predecessors. And soon there were more affordable model. Just imagine: if not for her, we would never have seen the transfer of "Be Your Own director."
10. M-Systems DiskOnKey - the first USB flash drive
Year of issue: 2000.
For 20 years, people have predicted the death of the floppy disk. And the appearance of a thumb-sized storage and does it issued a death sentence. The USB-flash drive with memory from 8 to 32 MB was easy to use and does not require driver installation on the PC. DiskOnKey opened a new era of moving files from one device to another.
see also
- TEST: What are these strange old gadgets? Guess! →
- 12 gadgets that will save money, time and nerves →
- 15 unobvious sports gadgets that are useful to you in training →