I mentioned in a recent article that I am 76 years young, so I have obviously witnessed huge advancements in technology during my time. Here then, are some of the most innovative technological advancements that have impacted the way in which we live our lives:
IoT (Internet of Things)
Obviously, the Internet and the World Wide Web have changed so many aspects of everyday life, from the way in which we listen to music and view videos to communications and information gathering. In more recent times this has led to the IoT. Who would have thought that we’d end up being able to control ordinary household items through an app or using voice commands? Among the IoT devices I own are a doorbell/camera, lighting systems, Google Home, and smart plugs. I am a self-confessed gadget freak, after all.
Smartphones
It was inconceivable back in the day that an ordinary wired rotary-dial telephone could eventually morph into the fantastic multi-purpose devices that smartphones are today. I’ve mentioned previously in other articles how the miniaturization of electronics has been a major influence on the advancement of technology, in all areas, and the smartphone is no exception.
When I was a kid, we used to listen to devices known as “Transistor Radios”. These radios were graded by the number of transistors – 4,6,8,10, etc. – with the higher numbers of transistors increasing both performance and price exponentially. In those days, transistors were about the size of a pinky fingernail, today hundreds of transistors could easily fit on the surface of one of those old transistors.
Oh, how I wish smartphones had been around during my working life.
Smart TVs & Streaming Services
My dad was a TV technician and I still remember the very first TV we owned circa the mid-1950s. The TV’s cabinet was about 10 times the size of the 12″ viewing screen and, by today’s standards, it was the equivalent of looking at a postage stamp. We could never have guessed that these humble beginnings would one day see TVs with mega-large flat screens capable of displaying color pictures in HD and UHD.
There is little doubt that the advent of streaming video services has changed the way in which we view TV shows and movies. Again, a byproduct of the Internet with all its marvels. I currently subscribe to 4 streaming video services and rarely watch any free-to-air- programs, with the local evening news being a rare exception. So much choice, so many great shows to watch, and all ad-free. Bloody marvelous!
Health & Medicine
I’ve included this category only because one of my granddaughters suffers from full-blown cystic fibrosis. When she was born the average life expectancy was around 14 years. She is now 28 years old, married, and the mother of a little baby boy. She’d been told her entire life that she could never have a child and these miracles are down to advancements in treatment and, largely, much improved drugs. We are grateful every single day that our beautiful granddaughter is still with us and shall remain so for many years to come.
There are obviously many more tech innovations worthy of mention. What is your favorite? Let us know in the comments.
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I thought SSD’s were fast, and they are, but the NvME m2 I installed, in my
last PC build is just awesome, just running with an i3 CPU.
So include the NvME M2.
I agree on the SSDs. Seeing the operating system ready when you are and less waiting on things to load. The thing that made me more fascinated was on games. As early adopters, us computer gamers didn’t see the benefit as granduous as what the game developers applied to the gaming consoles. Just for the fact that they are taking advantage of the faster portion(sequential writes/reads) of the Solid State Drives, and it later benefiting us, it’s what I find revolutionary. Other than that, they are glorified flash drives with better controllers and possibly the better part of the silicon wafer for endurance/reliability.
I’m also 76 and have seen the marvel of electronic miracles come about over the years. I have an degree in electronics and have worked in the industry for about 14 years. That ended in 1987. I had worked mostly on audio and video equipment including some of those old black and white tvs and the old round crt tvs. I did study digital electronics. Amazing stuff. Computers were my interest starting in the ’80s with an Atari 800 the pcs around 1990.
For me, the invention of the big screen led tvs is amazing. I knew they were going to come, but the pace of the advancements has truly amazed me. I carry my music on a USB stick, but used to have a Sony Walkman to play cassettes. We live in a technological wonderous age!
Hey Alan,
I love hearing stories from fellow septuagenarians. Thanks for your interesting comment.
I’m the kid here at just 72. My father bought a TV in 1951 right after I was born and the neighbor across the street was so impressed he wrote about it in his newspaper column even naming me as the youngest viewer! I loved electronics as a youngster, building crystal then shortwave radios and was so fascinated by telephones that I ended up with a career in telecom. Started doing crude home automation in high school and never stopped.
Hey Bruce,
I also built a crystal radio when I was a kid, would listen to it in bed when I was supposed to be sleeping.
Thanks for the comment, another great story.
I’m another “geezer” of 76; I was diverted into electronics in 1964 by the Navy. The technical training I received, given that time period, was in both vacuum tube & solid state technology. When back in the private sector, I morphed over to servicing industrial and process controls.
Manufacturing technology made a giant leap forward in the 1970’s by adapting the computer into capable devices for machine control and process automation (I.E. PLC & DCS systems). I work with them to this day.
Note: I already receive the DCT Newsleter.
Another great story, thanks for sharing Rick.
My old man was a Sapper in the Royal Engineers (UK) during WWII. When the war ended, and he was demobbed from the army, they gave him a choice of courses to undertake. He chose TV and radio technician, which turned out to be a great choice, kept him employed all his working life.
For me it just has to be microwave ovens. I’m always re heating tea which would otherwise be drunk cold.
The second one is also food based and it;s the air fryer (Phillips NOT Tefal) used every day for everything from Baked potatoes to roast joints.
Then there’s LED light bulbs – amazing bright light at a tiny fraction of the cost.
With the above our electricity use is so low that we have trouble getting our overpayments back from our supplier…. £600 every couple of years!
BTW I take over the baby position at 68. I just feel 86!
Hey Jonathan,
Sounds as though you enjoy your food. 🙂
You’re not wrong though; we used to prepare meals with ingredients from fridge or fresh to oven/cooktop. Now it’s from freezer to microwave and/or air fryer.
At the tender age of 79, I have been witness to the logarithmic technology explosion that electronics micro-miniaturization has enabled. I still recall back in the late 50’s deciding to make the jump from a crystal radio to a “superhet”radio. I bought a kit only to discover that the “tubes”weren’t included. It was weeks before I could gather up enough money to buy the tubes!
Today, the circuitry for an AM receiver would fit on a chip half the size of a pinky fingernail!!!
Just reminiscing………
Hey Martin,
Another interesting story. Agree 100%, I’ve been saying for ages that the micro-miniaturization of electronics has contributed hugely to advancements in technology in just about every field.
Thanks for your comment.
I am rapidly learning to hate IoT. I have devices from two different manufacturers that don’t work properly. One we came to the conclusion that it was my new Motorola phone that didn’t like their software. The other I would guess much the same but I can’t even log into their site to get help as they don’t accept the password I originally set up and they won’t let me change it. The devices work reasonably well when they work BUT that is a problem every time you have a power outage or move something then the nightmare of resetting them all starts all over.
Do you have surge protection? I am a promoter of the UPS units (use and trust APC). Power outages occur without warning so being prepared and having the tool to manage an orderly shut down is worth the investment, Mindblower!
My dad introduced me to computers with a Timex Sinclair. He claims he’s not keeping up as he runs an iPhone and a windows 11 laptop at 85.
Today’s pressure cookers and slow cookers are my picks in the kitchen. Often can be left unattended while making tasty meals. The ability to find answers to almost any question on the WWW has changed the way information is found. Each year there are new gadgets that make our life easier, Mindblower!
As a fellow 76-er, I would add one item to your list for us guitar players with a tin ear who don’t have the talent to transcribe our mp3-music collections to sheet music. I would give my 10 fingers —errr, well maybe 9, if I still hope to play —for such software to be available.
Happy 2023 , everyone!
Dan