uniladtech homepage
  • News
    • Tech News
    • AI
  • Gadgets
    • Apple
    • iPhone
  • Gaming
    • Playstation
    • Xbox
  • Science
    • News
    • Space
  • Streaming
    • Netflix
  • Vehicles
    • Car News
  • Social Media
    • WhatsApp
    • YouTube
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
TikTok
Snapchat
WhatsApp
Submit Your Content
Video from 1984 explaining how to send an email leaves people with the same question 40 years on

Home> News

Published 09:55 19 Jun 2024 GMT+1

Video from 1984 explaining how to send an email leaves people with the same question 40 years on

There's a knowledge gap between Millennials and Gen-Z.

Rebekah Jordan

Rebekah Jordan

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover
Featured Image Credit: ThamesTV/YouTube
Computers
Gadgets

Advert

Advert

Advert

YouTube is filled with videos from decades ago showing major tech figures like Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg when they were first starting out.

For example, there's a gem of Tesla's CEO Elon Musk predicting the future of the internet and how it would change our lives.

Now, one video from 1984 has resurfaced on the video platform showcasing how emails work.

Today, we type, review, send and think nothing more of it - the process is pretty instantaneous.

Advert

However, the process which is explained to be 'extremely simple' has baffled its viewers.

Even after the demonstrator shows how to set up an email by connecting a wire to the modem, people are still asking after six minutes of the video: 'What's a modem?'

The top comment on the YouTube video reads: '1984: What's a modem? 2021: What's a modem?'

Some are claiming the confusion to be a result of a generational divide in that millennials remember modems from their childhoods but Gen Z'ers likely won't recognise it.

'millennials do remember modems it's the gen z lot that don't,' one user replied, with another writing: 'I literally cry knowing that 80% of all Millennials have no idea what a modem is'.

Other users were surprised by how simple the demonstrator emphasized the process of sending an email was. '"Yes, well its very simple really". Proceeds to CALL the computer,' the comment read.

Well, to answer the burning question that is confusing most, a modem, short for modulator-demodulator, is a device that allows computers to communicate with each other over telephone lines.

Essentially, it converts digital data from a computer into an analogue signal that can travel through phone lines (modulation) and then converts incoming signals back into digital data that the computer can understand (demodulation).

Lorenzo Herrera/Unsplash
Lorenzo Herrera/Unsplash

And the modem can then be left on without affecting the telephone line, as explained in the video.

It's pretty impressive actually, but it's probably most remembered today for its extremely slow speeds - especially compared to the instant technology we have today.

What's also cool in the video is the presentation of Micronet. For those who don't know, it was an early information provider - a very basic version of a newsfeed today.

'Micronet is an area of Prestel that's specifically designed for microcomputer users,' the man described.

Prestel was the information system used for computers back then.

As the demonstrator shows, Micronet had daily news, reviews of current software, programmes and a 'Letter's page' for people to write in.

The database crew also touched on the type of things they used the computers for, including shopping lists and writing to their doctor - which, of course, barely scratches the surface of what these machines can do today.

Choose your content:

16 hours ago
18 hours ago
21 hours ago
  • Thomas Fuller/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
    16 hours ago

    Travelers to pay bonds up to $15,000 to enter the US as new visa rules come into place

    President Trump has tightened the rules around legal immigration

    News
  • Lionel Hahn / Contributor via Getty
    18 hours ago

    Jeff Bezos pays $1,000 every single month to break this California law

    It's something only a handful of people can afford

    News
  • Mat Hayward / Contributor / Getty
    21 hours ago

    Star Trek star is sending out $1 checks to people that donate to this charity on Musk's X money

    The giveaway is linked to Musk’s new payment platform

    News
  • NurPhoto / Contributor / Getty
    21 hours ago

    Anthropic reportedly testing new AI model that poses 'unprecedented' risks

    A quiet leak suggests this could be Anthropic’s most powerful model yet

    News
  • Video showing how the inside of a CD works is leaving people gobsmacked
  • People still can't believe how vinyl records work even after seeing video of how they're made
  • How much money you’d have today if you invested $1000 in Apple when Macintosh was introduced 40 years ago
  • Video explaining how Bluetooth actually works is leaving people in awe of how advanced it is