Can you imaging yourself living in the pre-computer period?

Question

I mean, when the PC is not yet invented, where you have to type your thesis using a typewriter (no spell check, no delete function), where you have to do manual computations because there's no microsoft excel, where internet is still inexistent.

Answer 1

Hahahahahaha.

You people are obviously so young you are talking of "imagining it" like it were so dreadful. It wasn't, really.

I am 51 years old, and I have been working in an office since I was 17. So I have been working for 34 years. And when did computers show up in in the work areas?

I lived and worked through those years when typewriters were manual, and to have copies means to have carbon paper inserted between "onion sheets". To correct would be to snopake on all copies, wait for the snopake to dry, before resuming typing.

Then came "sorters" where we data-process using 80-column cards. Ever heard of them?

Then came computers using "Assembler" as language, still based on the 80-column cards. next came more sophisticated languages like COBOL (Common Business language) and Fortran.

Research was done through books, internet was not even an idea. No emails, the fastest were telexes.

No excel, we were good with our calculators.

But we all easily adapted to technology. And laugh at people who never experienced the fun of those days without computers.

Cell phones would be another story.

Hahahahahahaha!

Answer 2

I don't think I could define myself without considering the opinions of others. Why would I need to define myself if others weren't in the equation who need that definition. If there were no others would an individual have to explain anything, or would all action be appropriate because the only person who could potentially suffer from the action would be the individual themself. If I don't feel like I am "missing" something then I think I am not looking hard enough. There always seems to be some opportunity for improvement; to include that which is "missing". In that regard, someone is always knocking on the door, and I am searching to find out who it is and why they are knocking.

Answer 3

Yes, I can. In my student years, we have to use typewriters for our thesis and school reports. It wasn't bad because we were used to typing hard keys. Although it was exasperating at times specially if you commit a typing error and have to erase it with a white ink and wait for it to dry before you can type over the deleted word again. And yes, the use of carbon papers for duplication of your work. It was real messy on the fingers, you know. Thank God for the invention of computers, our work gets easily done and no mess, too.

Answer 4

Easily.

Perhaps, the computer age started as you envisage from the early eighties (the PCs, as you mentioned), and am rather at home with these decades. And I would really much prefer to inter-act with real people, write in block letters using real fountain pens, draw or paint in real canvas instead of using softwares for it, and sing songs accompanied by real musical instruments than recorded minus one.

However, if the computer age started in the early 1900s with that lady who first wrote programming lines for a mechanical computer big as a house, I don't think I'll be at home there.

EDIT: Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (December 10, 1815 – November 27, 1852), born Augusta Ada Byron, is mainly known for having written a description of Charles Babbage's early mechanical general-purpose computer, the analytical engine.

I posted last para in admission of missing quite a number of years in my memory by earlier quoting "the early 1900s".

Answer 5

i did once. i draft my articles in a sheet of paper, revising till i'm satisfied enough to use the typewriter. And manual computations is done through the wonders of calculator with memory function and research materials are found in the well-used shelves in the library =)

Answer 6

Thumbs up to "Bopols" I am also 51 but did not work in an office so I did not have access to anything other than a pen and piece of paper, and (BOOKS) you know those pieces of papers glued together between a hard cover?
As a matter of fact my first introduction to a computor was less that 10 years ago and have only had one of my own for about 5 years...STILL LEARNING!

Answer 7

Yeah, I lived without a computer until last year, so I think I could manage. :)

Answer 8

well, alot of people are still using type writters, and why not can I not learn to do it, it would be fun.. I would probably in a ton of papers... Lol!!!!

Answer 9

I can imagine it , doesnt mean i want to experience it. I love my computer I'd rather have that then tv.

Answer 10

yes, life was way more simple...more time for human interaction, street games, tambayans and QT with friends and family....