Unplugged: Life Without Computers, PDAs, TVs, and Cell Phones

The 1970's was full of events including "President Nixon being reelected in 72'" as well as the "Russians landing a probe on Venus" (Stewart). The image of the 1970's was "bellbottoms, platform shoes, a white disco suit"(Stewart). The oil crisis in 1973 was caused when Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), during the Yom Kippur War, announced that they would no longer ship petroleum to nations that had supported Israel in its conflict with Syria and Egypt , to the United States and its allies in Western Europe" (The People History). "Progressive rock created a new generation of bands"(The People History). These are interesting facts about the 1970's but I am interested in learning about the life of electronic devices.

Source: Stewart

In the 1970’s and 1980’s the electronic devices we have today were not around. What seems to be basic and mandatory possessions such as cell phones and computers were not available to the public. The lack of these means of communication had a great effect on what life was like in the late 1970’s. Communication between people over a long distance was a much greater challenge than it is today. I am interested in learning about the late 1970's. All I can think of when i think of that time period is the television show? That 70's Show. I have prepared an interview for my father George Panos who has lived thought the 70's at a similar age to the main characters in the show. I want to truly understand what it was like to live in the 70's. They thought speak and spell was advanced. Was it really like the TV show? How was it better or worse?

My dad George Panos. Source: Panos, George

Electronics

During my interview with George I had asked many questions about the common electronic devices we have today. Most of which were unavailable and very simple if they were. George said “technology such as cell phones and computers are were unnecessary and still are today”(Panos). In the 1970’s everyone who needed to find my father knew how to. Everyday he and his friends would meet at a certain time. They had spots to meet up and the group was large enough that there were always people there. Long distance communication was not a problem because “people knew how to find each other, they we not lost the way kids are if they lose their cell phone or the power goes out”(Panos).

Doing what he Does Best

George said that electronics were unimportant and did not have much of an effect on his life simply because they were not that common. Cars are what were important to George. All his life he worked on cars to make them better and most importantly faster. George has always raced both on the street and on the track as had almost all of his friends. His favorite car he has ever had and he had a lot was his 1967 Camaro. He has had this car longer than he has been married to my mother and he considers it to be his first wife. his favorite cars were first generation Camaros. He was good with cars; he knew everything about them and how to build the fastest motor. George’s cars blow away today’s modern cars 30 years later with ease.

My dad's 1967 Camaro that he still has today. Source: Panos, George

King of the Road

In the 1970’s my father was the king of the road. “I could be anyone”(Panos) he said. My dad was not rich but not poor so he had to make due with what he had. Most of the time he had to “bubble gum motors together”(Panos). Bubble gumming a motor means sticking a bunch of parts and pieces together to make something work and he was good at that. Unfortunately this lead to a lot of motors blowing in a short time my dad mentioned “one time I put 6 motors in a car in one summer”(Panos). On his budget he mostly built motors that were fast and cheap but not reliable. My father told a saying “when it comes to cars there is cheap, fast, and reliable, pick 2”(Panos). Although when money came around he put it in to his 1969 Camaro that was raced strictly at the track. This car was his “fastest but not favorite”(Panos).

My dad's 1969 Camaro that he raced at the track. Source: Panos, George

Works cited.

Panos, George A. “Unplugged: Life Without Computers, PDAs, TVs, and Cell Phones.” Leominster, Massachusetts 5 May 2011. Interview.

Stewart, Gail B. The 1970’s. Gail B. Stewart, Web. 7 May 2011. http://www.kyrene.org/schools/brisas/sunda/decade/1970.htm

The People History. 1970’s. TPH, 2004. Web. 5 May 2011. http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1970s.html