Tag Archives: 1984

Even before the viewer catches a glimpse his first Mogwai, Joe Dante's Gremlins establishes the link between the titular goblins and malfunctioning technology by way of Randy Peltzer and his many incompetent inventions. It's a film very much of its time, with many fascinating things to say about the way Reagan-era Americans looked at technology. It's also a movie that would be impossible to remake today, for one big reason: the smartphone is our Bathroom Buddy.

Larry Page tells us to ask ourselves if the work we do is changing the world. But is change always and everywhere for the better?

In 1984, computing as we know it was still in its infancy. Almost purely text-based, PCs and the internet were indistinguishable from what they have become in modern times. Yes, I remember it well. I had a perfect view from the glimmer in my daddy’s eye. But what would have happened had social networking evolved faster than computing progress could ...

Here’s a photo of a ledger from the 1984 collection from IBM. Those striking pastels and regal fonts really bring it all together. Look how proud IBM was: “For the introduction of the IBM PC, we designed the packages and software manual, creating, instead of the industry’s usual cheap plastic binders, hard-bound linen covers and slipcovers in pastel colors to ...