By Victoria Huggins Peurifoy, May 8, 2018 — Recently, I was recalling the electronics of yesteryear. We are so spoiled by remote controls that we even have remote control to turn on and off our air conditioners. As a child, we had a wooden box console that not only had a black and white TV in it it had a record player and a radio. The TV had those knobs that were so big, they looked like big buttons on a winter coat. And there was no remote control because it didn’t exist yet.
Victor Corp, Japanese company created the VHS video home system to record movies and television shows. My mom recorded every soap opera especially, The Young and the Restless, General Hospital, and I quote, I forgot. But one of the best things recording with a camcorder which used blank VHS tapes. I remember having someone to tape tape my mother’s 60th birthday party. I was 38 at the time. That was one of the best VHS tape show… And it was a show. We had a surprise party for her and she initially walked into the house fussing until… She walked in the door and saw all 60 people. Once she realizes she knew some of these people who had come there to celebrate her… She was all smiles.
Another cool thing in yesterday years electronics was the 8-track tape player and recorder that played great movies. It looked a lot like one of those small cereal boxes where you have a variety pack.
But the best electronic was my first cell phone which look like a war zone walkie-talkie. It was so big. Compared to our palm-size mobile devices or flip phones that some people still use. It is ironic that now all of the electronics of yester-years have been reduced in size and function. Now, you can buy a fire stick device, that is smaller than your hand, attach it to your television and see current and old movies, old TV shows, documentaries, and more. No separate box and you can speak your request Into the Fire stick remote.
Our mobile phones are so smart, that ergo the term smartphone, they can count our steps, record our voices, keep our calendars for our appointments, you can watch movies on your phone or even play games. You can take pictures with the install camera, send messages to folks when you can’t talk to them, and you can schedule a ride with Uber or Lyft, check your emails, go on your media accounts such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can even play soothing music to lower yourself to sleep at night.
There are so many electronic devices the day that are constantly changing how we do things, it can be difficult or scary just realizing that electronics will soon take over the world. I digress.
While I’m here, I’m thankful for the ever-evolving technology. If my grandchildren are tech-savvy, I have to be also, so they can’t get over on me. Thank God for the Windows operating system that allows you to type, correct, edit, spell check, with just the click of a key it beats the old manual Royal Typewriters upon which I learned. I just have to keep learning and applying the lessons I’ve absorbed and it will be a Best Day.