Posted on 02/21/2007 10:07:19 AM PST by Incorrigible
By TRACY DAVIS
Christina Wall uses only technology that was in existence before 1950 as part of her master's project. (Photo by Eliyahu Gurfinkel)
In this pre-1950 land, there are no frozen dinners, no non-stick skillets and no fast food franchises. She can't use a dishwasher, clothes dryer or microwave; she has no access to ATMs, DVDs or CDs.
Wall, 32, an Eastern Michigan University graduate student, hasn't left her west-side Ann Arbor home for another plane in the space-time continuum. She's simply going a month — through March 2 — without using any technology created since 1950. It's part of her master's degree project on the impact of technology in modern life.
When she has a headache? Uncoated aspirin instead of ibuprofen. When she needs to contact a friend? Snail mail or an antique rotary phone. When it snows? Sledding instead of reality TV. Her project is a completely original conception, said Professor Denise Pilato, who teaches in EMU's College of Technology.
"In some ways it's an experiment,'' she said. "And being that it's an experiment, there are a lot of surprises for her.''
Perhaps most surprising is that there have been so many happy ones. For example, Wall estimates she'll save up to $400 this month because it feels more "real'' to spend cash than to use an ATM card.
And she has found her day has more hours.
"It's amazing,'' she said. "I literally feel I like I have 40 hours in a day. I realize how much time was sucked up with TV, and more specifically the Internet and e-mail.''
The classically trained pianist now has time to practice 45 minutes daily, to read books, to sit down to breakfast and to reconnect with friends.
Neighbor Margaret Steneck, a retired University of Michigan history professor, has taken great interest in the project. "It's not just what was available in 1950, but what would someone living in her house, in her socioeconomic range, be able to afford and have available to them,'' she said.
For example, television had been invented by 1950, but it wasn't commonplace. And certain types of cosmetics — lipstick and hair conditioners were around but don't appear to have been commonly used by most women, according to Wall's research.
Wall's friends, family and students have had to readjust as well. To the ire of some of her students, Wall, a graduate student instructor at EMU, is not available via e-mail and is not posting her lectures online. Now, students have to phone Wall or go to her office hours to talk to her.
"It was interesting and it was sad,'' she said. "You can just see how addicted students are now, and that they have the expectation things are going to be spoon-fed to them. ... Now, they feel like they can't have a normal conversation. And by losing that skill, they become fearful of them. I feel like part of the reason to do this is we're in this spiral that's not good.''
She hasn't decided yet how her life will be changed when she is done, but it will definitely be changed, she said. She's considering doing more work on the idea and pursuing a Ph.D.
Wall admits she has "cheated'' by using a video camera to record some of her experiences. She hopes to make a documentary when she's done.
Wall graduates in April, so she'll soon start writing up her project. But on what? Typewriter or computer?
"I haven't decided yet,'' she said with a laugh.
To read more about Wall's project, go to http://retrochicky.blogspot.com. Of course, it hasn't been updated since January since Wall can't access her computer or use the Internet, but you can read about her research and preparations.
***
Examples of modern conveniences that were not invented or not widely available before 1950:
— Four-wheel drive. The vehicle credited with being the first four-wheel drive internal combustion engine car was built shortly after 1900. But four-wheel and all-wheel drive didn't become commonplace among consumer-driven road vehicles until well after 1950.
— Garbage disposals first came onto the market in 1938, but because many cities forbade putting food waste into sewage systems, they weren't widely used until years later.
— Disposable diapers were invented in 1950 but not widely available; cloth diapers were standard.
— Voicemail. Its inventor, Gordon Matthews, applied for a patent in 1979. The first answering machine was invented in 1935 and was three feet tall, but the machines were not widely used until decades later.
— Smoke alarms. The battery-powered household devices were first designed in the late 1960s.
Sources: Christina Wall, Wikipedia, EnchantedLearning.com, About.com, Fcc.gov.
(Tracy Davis is a reporter for the Ann Arbor (Mich.) News. She can be contacted at tdavis(at)annarbornews.com.)
Not for commercial use. For educational and discussion purposes only.
In re: the birth control, I'm just sayin' why do we assume all single women are messing around?
I used cloth diapers on each of my six children when they were babies. They were born between 1984 and 1991. Not only did I save $500 per year per child on the cost of disposables, but they were all toilet trained earlier than their peers in paper diapers.
Just on this thread? LOL
I guess you haven't read the 'I hate public schools' and 'I hate American women' threads. They're very funny actually.
We didn't get one until about 1956! We had an 8 party line (which provided a lot of entertainment....)!
More power to you, and I am not being sarcastic.
Speaking of hosts, I remember seeing Pinky Lee collapse on air while doing his frenetic dance routine. I suppose today they'd have "crisis counselors" or something for the kids ;-)
Betty Furness not being able to get the Fridigaire door open during a live commercial sticks in my mind, too. I can still hear my parents' howls of laughter.
Wasn't that a hot dog stand? Think the first McDonalds was in San Berdo on E St in about 1953 or 1954.
Wasn't that a hot dog stand? Think the first McDonalds was in San Berdo on E St in about 1953 or 1954.
In my last duty assignment, I worked around an E7 and E8 - CPO and SCPO. The CPO was a Civil War Reenactor. He was talking about one weekend when he was participating in a faux battle and he was called by the duty crew. He said he had to go to his car and make some phone calls after that. The SCPO kidded him by saying he was cheating by calling down an air strike on the Southern forces.8-)
By the way, has anyone on this thread ever read The Fifties by David Halberstom? A very interestnig book. Holiday Inn came into being in the fifties. And a lot of other stuff we use today.
That will leave a mark! 8-)
wow, 145 years and he's sitting there in a Civil War uniform doing 21st century stuff. I wonder what they'll be reinacting 200 years from now.
If this is what passes for education, it's no wonder we're so freakin' stupid in this nation these days.
Scouts Out! Cavalry Ho!
Oh no! I got stuck in a "Do loop" and the print out was 500 sheets before they shut is down.
Our church still has a rotary phone hanging in the hallway. It is very fun to watch kids (and some adults) trying to use it for the first time!
YOu're no fun...
I know lots of liberals that live in the 60's, always wishing to recreate the halcyon days on when they almost broke America over their knee.
That was similar to when a rotating stage got stuck between scenes on the Jackie Gleason show. The show was live, and Jackie had to come out in front of the curtain and riff, puffing cigarettes and sweating, for a long, long time.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.