Throwback Thursday: 90 technology is now from an age gone by
Take a trip down memory lane and revisit the essential technology that defined the 90s.
There’s been a lot of nostalgia for ‘the way things used to be’. From TikTok sites showing young Gen Z’s how 90s fashion was to gazing back at how far technology has come, no one can deny that looking back leaves one with a comforting sense of nostalgia for a bygone era.
- Flip Phone
The flip phone was the epitome of cool. Compact, sleek, and satisfying to snap shut, these phones introduced many to texting (T9-style) and mobile calls. While smartphones would later dominate, the flip phone remains an iconic design from a simpler mobile era.
One of the first cellphones in South Africa was the Motorola Startac, which made its debut in 1994.
- Floppy Disk
Image from Flickr. Before cloud storage and USB drives, the floppy disk reigned supreme. These square-shaped disks were used to store documents, images, and even early computer games. They couldn’t hold much by today’s standards, but they were a lifeline for students, office workers, and anyone looking to store Important information from their computers.
- Game Boy
Nintendo released the Game Boy in 1989. It reached popularity in the 90s and revolutionised portable gaming. With interchangeable cartridges and addictive titles like Tetris and Pokémon, it was a staple on road trips and playgrounds everywhere.
- Walkman
In the 90s, the Walkman was the ruler of portable music. This iconic cassette player allowed music lovers to listen to their favourite albums on the go. The click of a cassette being inserted and the soft whirring of the tape inside are memories etched into the minds of many 90s kids.
- DVD & DVD Player
The late 90s brought with them the dawn of digital video. DVDS offered clearer pictures and better sound than their predecessor, the VHS tapes, therefore signalling the end of video cassettes. Paired with sleek DVD players, this format introduced a new era of home entertainment, complete with bonus features, scene selection, and no need to rewind.
Hands up to the many boomers, Gen X and millennials who still have their box sets of favourite series on DVD!!
- Pager
Before cell phones became affordable and widespread, there were pagers. These small, clip-on devices would beep or buzz with a number to call back, often leading to a quick scramble to find a payphone. Used by professionals and teens alike, pagers were an early taste of mobile communication.
- Video Cassette & VCR
The video cassette and the VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) were central to 90s home entertainment. Whether you were recording a favourite show or renting a movie from Video Town. “Be kind, rewind” became a familiar phrase to any frequent renter
- CD (Compact Disc)
CDs were the music format of choice throughout the 90s. Owning a growing CD collection and perhaps a CD binder for your car was a point of pride, and portable CD players became a must-have accessory.
- Digital Camera
Long before smartphones made everyone a photographer, digital cameras began to emerge in the late 90s. They allowed users to take photos and preview them instantly with no film or developing required.
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