Old technology you have to explain to kids

Explaining why a shutter-sound is made on your phone (young kids have never seen a film camera)

That noise that computers made to get online

Corded phones

I've heard schools don't have chalkboards anymore...just dry erase or computer projection.

Explaining why we "rewind" a digital TV show that was "taped" on your DVR. (and for an aside...remember "VHS rewinder" machines? Don't forget: "Be Kind. Rewind.")

Any others have stories about explaining stuff to kids.

 

My boys laughed their butts off about how cool it was to ride in a truck with windows that opened when you cranked the handle.

Also I've been asked what the heck I mean when I say I taped a show.

 

How and why you had to thread a movie projector.

 

I was reading in The New York Times Magazine[/Dick Whitman] about the history hybrid cars[/Lugnuts] and how they jolt just a little when you hit the gas while stopped. Apparently, there's no reason for them to do that. It's all part of integrating new technology and user expectation. The same is true for phones making that shutter-snap sound while taking a photo.

 

Kids don't understand why Pong was cool.

 

I read an article in the last few years about the phenomena about the record scratch sound. Post CD kids know the sound means something didn't go the way it is supposed to, but they don't understand how it originated.

 

My mom kept her phone with a rotary dial until a few years ago. My nieces got a huge kick out of that

 

Local columnist wrote about an until recently functional rotary phone at an old-time theater in his town.

He said it was fascinating watching kids try to use it, and not know when to remove their fingers.

 

Bet you never stacked pennies on a tonearm, young man.

 

Moddy once told me to put away my sliderule.

 

Never throw away your cell phones or smart phones. They are tomorrow's antiques.

Try explaining to people why going to the bank on Friday used to be so important.