Science and Technology of the 1970’s and 1980’s

By Andy Moon, and Mark Pang
Mrs. Storck’s period. 7 class

General Technology of the 1970’s and 1980’s

• The 1970’s marked the boom of the Electronics and digital revolution. Companies now found various ways to use the technology, which resulted in an immense growth in smaller and more efficient and cheaper products of technology ranging from calculators to televisions.
• Also the 1970’s marked the beginning of the Home Computer (known as the desktop), resulting from Intel creating the first cheap microprocessor – the Intel 4004, and other integrated circuits. While in the beginning, computer were mainly for the hobbyists and included several different brands such as the Apple II, the TRS-80, and more, the growth of these home computers Bulletin Boards became a popular way for people to find others with similar interests.
• The first use of card access Electronic Locks appeared.
• The power of these new home computers also contributed to the beginning of video games. While when looked at, the video games of the past look very basic, it was because of the lack of technology available during that time period.
• The invention of the microwave oven and the capability of the manufacturers to produce and sell it at a cheap price greatly contributed in the increasing numbers of microwaves installed at homes.
  (http://www.buzzle.com/articles/technology-in-1970s.html)

Transportation Technology of the 1970’s and 1980’s

Boeing 747, originally nicknamed Jumbo Jet is a wide-body commercial airliner and cargo transport aircraft.

          In 1970, Boeing, American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, added a jumbo jet, the Boeing 747, which was huge compared to all other commercial airplanes. It could carry as many as 400 people. Not only the huge capacity of the amount of passengers it can hold was amazing, but the 747 brought international flight to millions of people at a price they could afford.(http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/309413?terms=jumbo+jets)

The development of expansive jumbo jets during the 1970s allowed for even greater numbers of people to fly more cheaply than ever; the number of annual commercial passengers increased from around 250 million in 1970 to some 700 million in 1979. This basically was the start of our current era of air travel. Global trade skyrocketed during the 1960s and 1970s, boosted by the expansion of air services, and tourism infrastructure  grew in most countries as ever greater numbers of people were able to fly far afield for vacations. Majority of this growth greatly affected the western countries, however other regions around the world such as Asia was also affected. Airports worldwide were struggling to accustome these sudden changes, and also made new air routes. This new era of cheap and common air travel made all different kinds of new global connections possible, from rapid international disaster relief efforts to world tours by musical acts. Also, because of this invention, Aerial connections between communist countries grew slowly.(http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Feature/Story/1709586?cid=1709588&terms=transportation+1970%2c+1980)

Communication Technology of the 1970’s and 1980’s

Television  was also a very influential source of communication during the time.

For example

TV Shows 1970s

• The Streets of San Francisco 1972 – 1977.
• The Waltons 1972 – 1981.
• Chips 1977 – 1983.
• Ironside 1967 – 1975.
• Lassie 1954 – 1973.
• Starsky and Hutch 1975 – 1979.
• Dukes Of Hazzard 1979 – 1985.
• The Benny Hill Show 1969 – 1989.
• Monty Python’s Flying Circus 1969 – 1974.
  

  Sesame street is a television show aimed to educate and entertain small children ages 5 and up

• The Muppet Show 1976 – 1981.
• Bonanza 1959 – 1973.
• The Brady Bunch 1969 – 1974.
• Dallas 1978 – 1991.
• Charlie’s Angels 1976 – 1981.
• Little House on the Prairie 1974 – 1983.
• Doctor Who 1963 – 1989.
• Gunsmoke 1955 – 1975.
• Columbo 1968 – 2003.
• Kojak 1973 – 1978.
• All In The Family 1971 – 1979.
• Laverne & Shirley 1976 – 1983.
• The Odd Couple 1970 – 1974.
• Bewitched 1964 – 1972.
• Happy Days 1974 – 1984.
• Sanford and Son 1972 – 1977.
• Steptoe and Son 2nd Series 1970 – 1974.
• Taxi 1978 – 1983.
• Benson 1979 – 1986.
• Sesame street 1969 – on going

These shows did many things including educating the young, entertain adults, and spread news as fast as possible.

These were types of inventions that greatly contributed to the communication of the 70’s and 80’s –

Barcode —– 1973 USA
E-Mail —– 1971 USA
Floppy Disk —– 1971 USA by Alan Shugart
Genetic Engineering —– 1973 USA by S Cohen and H Boyer
Ink Jet Printer —– 1976 USA
In Vitro Fertilisation —– 1978 England “test tube baby”
Laser Printer —– 1975 USA
LCDs —– 1970 England by George Gray – Liquid Crystal Display
Microprocessor —– 1971 USA
MRI Scanner —– 1977 USA by Raymond Damadian
Personal Computer —– 1975 USA
Space Station —– 1973 USA Skylab

(http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1970s.html)

Cassette Tapes
These are magnetic tapes used for recording sound. Cassette tapes gained popularity because of their capability to store songs. The cassette tapes were originally developed for the purpose of dictation. Improvement in the quality of recording made it possible to record songs as well. with cassette tapes you were also aloud to save messages and hear them later.(http://www.buzzle.com/articles/technology-in-1970s.html)

There was also a great invention in society called cell phones

One of the first phones ever made in the 1970’s

One of the last great contribution of the 20th century came with the advance of cellular technology. Though cellular phones had been available since the early 1980s, they were awkward and had poor reception, which made them impractical for widespread daily use until the technology was refined in the 1990s. By advancing satellite and digital technology has improved the quality of cellular service and greatly reduced the cost of long-distance phone calls.  Cellular phones continue to grow more unique and portable; current phones can easily fit in the palm of one’s hand. In addition, by the beginning of the 21st century, cellular phones could access the Internet and send text messages or e-mail, as well as photographs and short videos taken by the phone itself. While the figure is lower in rural areas, even that began to change in the 1980s when satellite dishes linked to repeater transmitters allowed for increased access in remote areas.(http://worldhistory.abc-clio.com/Search/Display/309345?terms=US+communication+1970+1980)