What inventions do you remember seeing for the first time and being amazed by?

[BettyCarver]

I remember the first time I saw someone with a Sony Walkman; it must have been about 1982; this dead cool guy at university. I remember it looking incredible that someone could walk around listening to cassette tapes like that The guy was pretty well off which I imagine is no coincidence because walkman’s must have been relatively hugely expensive back then.
Seems so funny now when you think of all the stages we’ve gone through since then for listening to music

I remember seeing a mobile phone that could send and receive text messages for the first time. I receive being really shocked and impressed

I was 14.

The first ever ipod release.

Fax machines used to blow my mind as I thought it was the SAME piece of paper that goes from one place to the other. Even when I learned how they actually worked I still found (find) them pretty mind-blowing.

Electric gates

Waffle makers

Don't know if this is an "invention" as such, but the first IVF baby, Louise Brown.

I kept hearing the words "test tube baby" and I was amazed, but just couldn't work out how they grew a baby in a test tube

Much later, in my thirties I was absolutely amazed by texts on a mobile phone. I thought it was so cutting edge and remarkable that I could type out a message and it would be with the recipient in seconds.

Spotify. I still don't understand how there is any music industry left.

Also remember thinking Polaroid cameras were magic as a child.

Every time I use my Sat Nav i feel like I'm in the future. Blows my mind.

Docklands, Canary Wharf and its light railway. Looks like sci fi to anyone who remembers what it was.

I'm still mystified by the fax machine tbh.

@topwings

I'm still mystified by the fax machine tbh.

Me too. For a long time I vaguely thought that whatever you faxed actually disappeared and turned up at the other end.

The iPhone - DHs mate had one (he is an early adopter of everything) and I just couldn't figure out how you used it!

Email - the idea that you could send a message and it would get there instantly! And the Internet in general!

Digital cameras

Those WAP phones that you could actually get the Internet on (even though they were shite!)

Mobile phones with a colour screen, seemed so sophisticated!

I'm easily pleased I think!

A calculator you could play a game on, about 1982. A parade of numbers would come up and you would have to 'shoot' it when you got a match.

Watching TV on a mobile phone. I think it was an old Sony slide out phone so the screen was really tiny but it was live TV and it amazed me.

@Dontate

Curtains that closed themselves on a timer or with a remote. This was the 70’s and my friend’s dad was really into gadgets and tech. Theirs was the first place I saw a vcr (Betamax) and a mobile phone too!

Reminds me of the Dave Allen 'Home of the Future' sketch. It's worth watching all the way through for the punchline!

Running water and electric lights. Wales 2009

I remember people being paid to do microwave demonstrations in the local electrical shops to show how quickly they could boil a jug of water or heat up some beans.

Tiny tears doll. It drank and cried real tears. It was magical. Also smash hits magazine. The actual lyrics of the songs were in there. That just seemed so brilliant!

Wireless broadband.

That you could have the Internet without dialling up and without a lead into the wall - amazing!

A horseless carriage

G pay/apple pay. Still blows my tiny mind.

@HangingOver

G pay/apple pay. Still blows my tiny mind.

First time I paid for something using my Apple Watch it felt like magic. 4 years on it still amazes me plus the fact that my work discount card is on there too 😱

WiFi, especially my Sonos system. It’s just a load of speakers - where is the thing that makes the music work? I know it’s the app on my phone but it still baffles me.

Bluetooth in my car.

Google Maps. The sheer amount of options you have, rerouting in case of traffic, instructions on how to get to the bus stop and which bus to get on. It’s amazing and it’s free!

Cash machines. Previously we had to queue up in the bank with my mum every Friday so she could cash a cheque in order to have money for the weekend.