For my A to Z Challenge theme I will be posting items that are no longer with us or are close to becoming extinct.
These are great items to use if you are trying to set a time period in your story or to stay away from if you want your story to be timeless.
Radio Shack The makers of the first home computer the TRS - 80 (To see it in action watch "War Games") is about to exist only in memory, just like that computer.
Roller balls in the computer mouse. Replaced by a red light.
Rolodex The way we stored important phone numbers before our phones did everything for us. I am amazed at how many items that I have put on this list that have been replaced by the smart phone.
Rotary dial phones. There is a funny scene with rotary dial phones in both "Aliens in the Attic" and "In & Out". If you have not seen "In & Out" you are missing out! It is a must see.
These phones made winning call-in contests unbearable. You would sit and anxiously wait for the dial to spin back into place so you could dial the next number. Happy Writing!
Hi Kat - Roladexes were my favourite and I still have one - which I really should R for Resuscitate ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThe more you used them the more frequently you needed to replace the cards. They got tattered quickly. That is why I chose the photo of the well worn rolodex as that was how mine looked.
DeleteROLLER BALLS! Forgot about those!
ReplyDeleteI did too. I have had so much fun researching for this little project.
DeleteMy first couple of computers were TRS-80 Color Computers! I kinda miss them. Of course my phone is something on the order of 2 million times more powerful. I do have a TRS-80 emulator on my phone just for fun!
ReplyDelete--
Tim Brannan, The Other Side Blog
2015 A to Z of Vampires
http://theotherside.timsbrannan.com/
We couldn't afford one so I had to go to a friends to use one. They had a computer and an atari! They were so lucky.
DeleteYou just reminded me that I didn't like cleaning the rubber ball in the mouse and that I really ought to spray some canned air into that red light hole to get ride of any dust. :-)
ReplyDeleteTake 25 to Hollister
The View from the Top of the Ladder
Every crumb or piece of dirt stuck to them and the more you tried to clean them the junk just stuck inside. I never thought about cleaning the light. Good idea.
DeleteNo idea you didn't get roller balls in mice any more. With the laptops, I haven't used a mouse in so long.
ReplyDeleteI don't mind the track pad, but I know so many people who carry a mouse with them for their laptop.
DeleteCleaning the roller ball was a bit of a pain.
We still have a rotary phone AND a rolodex. Both continue to come in handy.
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