The view from 1983
The May, 1983 issue of National Geographic magazine, which I came across recently, led me to contemplate the changes that have occurred since its publication 28 years ago. If you are young enough, 1983 might seem like "ancient" history but it doesn't seem that long ago to me.
The articles about Henry VIII's Lost Warship, Tasmania's Wild Side, or the Wonderful Brooklyn Bridge would not seem out of place in the current issue of National Geographic, but the advertisements provide a glimpse into the world which in 1983 was on the brink of the technological changes that would carry us into the 21st century.
A two page advertisement for Bell Systems articulated their vision of the "information age," which was in its infancy in 1983. That vision foretold the role of personal computers and hinted at the capabilities that we now realize with the internet and related technologies. In 1983 all this seemed, if not far-fetched, far in the future. "Receive your mail electronically. Transmit a report to your office in a matter of seconds. Your computer will even correct any spelling mistakes all by itself." A brave new world.
Out with the old. "Oh! The pictures you missed before the Kodak disc." An innovative product promoted on the back cover of the magazine, the Kodak Disc camera never caught on. A two page full color ad for Kodacolor VR1000, "The color film that almost sees in the dark." seems almost quaint. Who could have guessed in 1983 that film would be a niche product in today's digital world. Sony has a full page ad for the Betamax system, which lost the battle to VHS which in turn, lost the war to digital media.
Some things are still the same though. A two page ad for Martin-Senour paint promises "All the colors of America in a can." As far as I know, there is no digital substitute for a can of paint. Not yet anyway, but who knows in another 28 years.
I like the photo and the story. Before the internet we would watch slide shows, in the dark, with family and friends.
ReplyDeleteRobert--I know what you mean. Sometimes it seems the more "connected" we are the more separate our lives really become.
ReplyDeleteWe had a collection of slides and watched them on the Kodak Carousel projector. I happen to agree with you Edd...the more connected we are, the more separate.
ReplyDeleteI can envision families all sitting in the same room, all on laptops doing their own thing..maybe sending an instant message to mom or dad across the way to "chat".
I love your stories and photos as well.