Here's what it was like to send an email back in 1984
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It can be easy to take things like modern email for granted, and nothing highlights that more than this clip from "Database," an old tech show that aired in the 80s.
In the segment above, you can see what sending and receiving an email was like in 1984, back when you were greeted with prompts like "phone computer" and literally had to dial in using a rotary phone. These were the days when webpages were numbered and email was such a luxury that people would excitedly sign off on messages with phrases like "electronically yours."
The network shown here is Micronet, an internet portal that Gizmodo points out was a lot like an early version of AOL. Micronet featured online games, a magazine, rudimentary message boards, news, downloadable software, and yes, even email.
The video makes one thing very clear: A lot can change in 30 years.
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Steven Tweedie is a Deputy Executive Editor at Business Insider. He launched the Business News desk in early 2020 and helped grow it into the Trending and Tech News desk, a fast-paced reporting powerhouse that tackles the biggest business and tech stories of the day in an approachable way. He now oversees the Business News desk, Corporate team, and Weekend desk. He works out of the New York newsroom and helps train fellows and new hires at all experience levels in addition to his daily editing duties.He began his career covering app startups and gadgets on the Technology desk at BI. His past reporting and scoops have been cited or syndicated by publications including the WSJ, Associated Press, CNN, Bloomberg, The Guardian, and Forbes. He attended the University of Michigan, where he studied economics and writing, and now lives in Brooklyn.While passionate about editing and helping lead the newsroom's daily business coverage, he also puts on his reporting hat every now and then to chase down a scoop — so don't hesitate to reach out!Have a news tip? Email Steven from a non-work email at stweedie@businessinsider.comFollow him on X and Threads for the latest.Featured work:▲Leaked memo: Wayfair CEO tells employees to expect long hours 'blending work and life' (scoop) ▲ Magic Leap's CFO is stepping down after it was 'mutually decided' it was time for someone new (scoop)▲ 48 hours after raising $500 million, Magic Leap called the cops to say an employee had stolen $1 million (scoop)▲ A conversation with the father of virtual reality about the changing culture of Silicon Valley▲ The future of virtual reality is here▲ The first details on the executive shakeup planned for Yahoo once its deal with Verizon closes (scoop)▲ What it's like to log in to computers in North Korea, which run look-alike Mac software called 'Red Star 3.0'
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