The Bizarre History of Mobile Technology

The

Bizarre

History of

By Renee Floyd

Mobile

Technology

Today’s mobile

technology

activity possible

makes on-the-go

by being small,

lightweight and

internet-

accessible.

Today’s mobile

technology

makes on-the-go

activity possible

Modern mobile devices are constantly described

as intuitive.

But mobile

technology

hasn’t always

felt so

second nature.

But mobile

technology

hasn’t always

felt so

What other bizarre creations came between this…

…and this?

Here, we have two Londoners reading “ticker tape news

feeds” on portable telegraphs in1906.

In 1912, Berlin residents could

connect a compact

receiver and transmitter to a “contact place”

and make phone calls.

The device was so small, it

could be “carried in a

lady’s handbag or attached to

her chatelaine.”

The device was so small, it

could be “carried in a

lady’s handbag or attached to

her chatelaine.”

A what?

This artist’s concept of

“face time” communication

in 1930 is impressively close to what we have today.

Here, we have an early example of a mobile app—

the mobile appliqué.

Here, we have an early example of a mobile app—

the mobile appliqué.

Sewing

joke.

Sometimes, “mobile” simply meant

“the same thing as before,

Sometimes, “mobile” simply meant

“the same thing as before,

but with wheels.”

In the

1950s,

inventors

of mobile

technology

really

started

using their

heads.

Some mobile workstations became more high tech than their “desk on

wheels” predecessors.

Other mobile workstations

allowed indoor workers to

“get outside” for a change.

Portable TVs arrived in the

sixties, thanks to the

“art of miniaturization.”

Portable TVs arrived in the

sixties, thanks to the

“art of miniaturization.”

Ah, the old, “put some wheels

on it” approach to mobility!

The eighties brought forth a wave of mobile

technology, such as this “portable

microcomputer” from 1981.

This iPhone/iPad prototype from 1983 is oddly recognizable thanks to Apple’s

signature styling.

Mobile

technology

exploded in the

eighties, and

people had

more gadgets

than they could

carry.

Mobile

technology

exploded in the

eighties, and

people had

more gadgets

than they could

carry.

I can’t

carry all

this.

Now, we have access to more

information than we can consume.

Now, we have access to more

information than we can consume.

That’s a lot of

internet.

So how can you

harness that

information on a

mobile device—and

increase productivity

too?

Download the free guide today!

Thanks for viewing!

All images from

retronaut.com and

commons.wikimedia.org