The Evolution of Computers 1984-2009

How the Digital Age Has Saturated Culture

Back in the 80s, we were getting used to the idea of Walkmans, boom boxes and Rubik's cubes. By 1994, just 10 years later, computers were available to the home market and you could upgrade to a 386 Apricot computer (a joint operation between IBM and Apple that turned out to be a lemon) from a 286 that ran windows 3.0.

The Apricot computer had DOS 5 on it with games like Wolfenstein and Aquanoid. In 2009, we're a far cry from that - now we email, instant message and look up a phone number or address, or find a map on Google.

If you want to go on a holiday, you book and search via the computer. If you want to see what the weather will be today, you use the computer. If you want to cook a new recipe, you find it on the computer. If you want to listen to a DVD or a movie, you do it on the computer. All of your photos and writing is stored on computer. Your diary and appointments list is on ay computer.

How much has the computer integrated itself into your life today? Perhaps you have to get home and log on to the Net to check emails and download the latest MP4 and burn it to DVD. Then you load it to your USB Ipod, providing your ISP is allowing the bandwidth on their broadband to run at a decent speed. Perhaps you'll tell someone about it in a text from your cell.

Can you imagine going back in time to 1984 and comparing it to the comforts of today? Or even coming forward through time and arriving in the land of cell phones, satellite instant communication, portable DVD players, ipods, computers….?