When the cute Tamagotchi made its comeback a few years ago, those of us who knew the 1990s original might not have gotten to grips with it. Because at that time the technology behind the electronic toys was apparently something grandiose – as well as various other “novelties” that the decade has produced. Reminisce with TECHBOOK!
We children of the 1990s still remember the graphics from back then – the world was still much more pixelated – and no less certain sounds. For example, the characteristic “load” noise that DVD devices make when loading and unloading a corresponding data disc. Today the technology is more advanced, which is of course good and, in case of doubt, more user-friendly. Therefore, the following devices and programs from the 1990s should not be completely forgotten!
DVD
The DVD was the next big step after music had been available in CD format via Discman since 1985. At the time of their market launch in 1995, videos on DVD were considered incredibly innovative – after all, they had replaced the bulky cassette – and not just for reasons of space-saving. A few DVDs already offered the option of playing films in different languages, switching subtitles on or off and, if desired, the director’s commentary. Also the introduction of a menu that let you jump to the outtakes, among other things – brilliant!
The Alcatel phone
The coolest kids at school got cell phones first. And in the late 1990s, that was often an Alcatel Easy One. It might have seemed like the greatest device in the world – but of course it was an entry-level phone in terms of technology. It was soon replaced by the Nokia 3310.
text messages
Messenger services such as WhatsApp and Telegram have become indispensable on smartphones today. But that was different in the early 1990s, when technology was not that advanced and the invention of the mobile phone was less than 10 years old. The very first text message – also known as SMS (from Shortmitsage) – said to have been sent in 1992. At the end of the 1990s, it was more or less just “texting”.
fax
And: There was a lot of faxing! Thanks to the device, which was revolutionary at the time, official documents or images could be sent from one place to another – by rastering them into lines or later into pixels. Many of us can still hear the sound of this somewhat laborious process.
Windows 95
For many, Microsoft’s Windows 95 was the first operating system – and it forever changed the way computers were used. The user interface appeared to be more modern than that of the replaced Windows 3.1, and among other things it was possible to store files on the desktop for the first time. It didn’t run smoothly with it, because the technology in the new guise was not really that new, so that older programs could also be used on it. Occasional crashes were therefore simply part of the 1990s, but Microsoft’s Windows 95 laid the foundation for the later and lasting PC hype.
Also interesting: 25 Windows keyboard shortcuts you should know
The 56k modem
It took forever for the computer to connect to the internet. And the process was accompanied by the unique dial-up sound of the 56k modem. So the 1990s was also the decade of the “Get off the internet, I need to make a phone call” yell. Because both were not possible at the same time.
Luminous sneakers
In the 1990s, every step lit up. Thanks to technology, modern sneakers were equipped with LED lights that flashed when they appeared. The whole thing experiences a trend comeback from time to time. If you want to wear or wear it, you should bring a certain amount of self-mockery with you.
Furby
Another iconic representative of the technology of the 1990s: the fluffy toy Furby, which sweetened our everyday life with its mostly incomprehensible sentences. Although he mastered around 800 words – but in Furbish. But if he wiggled his ears and moved his eyelids, the desire for intensive conversations receded far into the background. Because Furby was great for cuddling!
Also interesting: Pay attention to data protection with smart toys
The Tamagotchi
What the smartphone is today was the Tamagotchi for a while in the 1990s. Because all the kids had one of these in their hands, they were crazy about the digital pet. Man stared at the LCD screen and fed his darling. Even the lessons did not prevent this, after all, a moment of absence could have meant the death of the pet! If the animal then gave up the ghost, the only thing that helped was resuscitation using the reset button.
SuperNintendo
1992 was the birth year of the Super Nintendo. A real revolution that had some graphic finesse and technology ahead of the existing market leader – the simple Nintendo. The cult technology of the 1990s came (in addition to new, ergonomically designed controllers) with Mode 7, which enabled pixel scaling and 3D simulation. Donkey Kong, Super Mario, and their animated counterparts were deeper, prettier, and bigger than before.