On social media, many viewers were stunned after a viral video from 1984 left people still asking questions.
A look back at early email technology
Technology has evolved rapidly over the years, changing the way we communicate.
Today, sending an email takes seconds, but it wasn’t always this simple. A recently resurfaced video from 1984 showcases how emails were sent decades ago, leaving modern viewers puzzled.
The YouTube clip demonstrates an early email setup.
A presenter explains the process, calling it “extremely simple.” However, the steps seem complicated by today’s standards.
The video shows a user connecting a wire to a modem before sending an email. Despite the detailed explanation, many viewers still had one burning question: “What is a modem?”
The video that baffled viewer
In the comments, many wonder, ‘What is a modem?’ as the 1984 video continues to leave people asking.
One peron said: We very much still have modems. Just most take a coaxial cable instead of a phone cord. But some still do take phone cords.
A second wrote: When I was kid I had to walk 4 miles in the snow to send an email.
While a third commented: It’s actually an extremely simple connection. After only 67 steps you’re connected. EZ.
Another added: Ill never forget back in the early 90s the first time I went into an online chatroom how amazed I was. Incredible how fast tech has developed
Generational divide in understanding technology
The top comment on the video reads: “1984: What’s a modem? 2021: What’s a modem?”
This highlights how the term has faded from everyday use. Millennials may remember dial-up connections, but many Gen Z users have never encountered a modem.
One commenter wrote, “Millennials do remember modems. It’s the Gen Z lot that don’t.”
Another added, “It’s shocking that 80% of Millennials have no idea what a modem is.”
What exactly is a modem?
To clear up the confusion, a modem (short for modulator-demodulator) allows computers to communicate over telephone lines.
It converts digital data into an analog signal for transmission and then back into digital data upon reception.
In the 1980s, modems were essential for connecting to early online services.
The slow speeds of early internet
The video also explains that users could leave their modem on without disrupting phone calls.
While impressive for its time, early modems were painfully slow compared to today’s high-speed internet.
Sending an email took much longer than the near-instantaneous process we enjoy now.
The video also showcases Micronet, an early online information provider.
Micronet functioned as a basic newsfeed, offering daily news, software reviews, and even a “Letters” page for user interaction.
The system operated under Prestel, a digital information service used by early computer users.
How Computers were used in the 1980s
The video also highlights other uses for early computers, such as creating shopping lists and communicating with doctors.
While these functions seemed revolutionary at the time, they barely scratch the surface of what modern computers can do today.
This resurfaced video serves as a reminder of how far technology has come.
While emailing was once a complex task requiring a modem and phone lines, today it’s as simple as a few clicks.
The clip continues to fascinate and amuse modern audiences, showing just how much digital communication has evolved over the last 40 years.