During a bio-break at a long workshop at the office on Friday I spotted an overhead acetate projector on the floor in the corner of the meeting room. This got me thinking: why is it that practically every office meeting room (well large ones anyway) have an overhead acetate projector on the floor in the corner? Does anybody actually still use those things? Are they there just in case someone might suddenly develop the urge to use one? The last time I actually recall someone using one was, I think, sometime in 1990. That’s over 14 years ago! (At this point in the workshop I decided to compose an arty photo of the swanky new laptop projector we were using. And here it is - without any Photoshop manipulation.)
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And this got me thinking even further - does anybody remember what office life was like in 1990? Here are some things that I certainly recall:
- The most common method of storing and transporting computer files - as well as installing new software on the PC was floppy disk. CDROMs didn’t exist then.
- I remember that the computer on my desk was really chunky - and the monitor was too. There were no windows.
- The word processor was WordStar - everyone in the office aspired to be a WordStar wizard. There was one chap in particular who memorised every conceivable keystroke combination in WordStar.
- The spreadsheet program was called Lotus 1-2-3 - and that was an upgrade from something that had been in use for years: VisiCalc.
- You were considered a privileged employee if you had a copy of Dbase2 on your PC. Must have been important to have that.
- There was no Powerpoint! Can you believe that - NO POWERPOINT ! What on earth did people do to keep themselves busy?
- In fact - there was no email either. Well - there was - but it was based on some really-hard-to-get-access-to mainframe system - and it wouldn’t get better for at least 3 more years when Windows started appearing in the office.
- Sending a message to somebody involved firing up WordStar - and choosing the “Memo” template - composing a memo - and then printing it to a shared printer at which there would invariably be a queue of people. Once printed - the memo was inserted into a specially-designed and re-usable “memo envelope” - upon which you would write the name, building and floor of the recipient - and then drop it into the nearest “mail out” tray to your desk. There was an entire division of the company dedicated to shifting memos like this around the company, right across the country. Incredible when you think about it now.
- I remember being amazed by the photocopier. I was a student fresh out of college at the time - so my experience of photocopying prior had always been the SINGLE photocopier in the University library - which you had a queue for - and was 5p a sheet! Here in the office - the photocopier was HUGE - and had loads of buttons and resize options - was fast - and best of all was FREE! I used to use the office photocopier a lot when I started work - kind of like making up for years of photocopier poverty.
- I remember that the more senior a manager you were - the larger - or better positioned - or more private - or better furnished your office-space was.
- Smoking was permitted in the office.
- The fax machine used to print on special, shiny-ish paper that used to curl up - and you had to tear off the sheet at the end of the copy - and cut up the pages. Also - that paper used to turn yellow after several months.
- There were no mobile phones. I repeat no mobile phones. So no distractions from people trying to be funny with their ringtones. No conference calls, no headsets, no electronic organisers, no PDAs etc. The Filofax (or Time Manager) was the trendy thing to have in those days. But it’s still very hard to get over the fact that there were no mobile phones.
- The office stationery cupboard was, to me, like an Alladin’s Cave of treasures. In those days people used to take their selection of writing pen very seriously - I remember my personal favourite was a Black Pentel fine point professional or something like that. These days nobody uses pens any more - so the office stationery cupboard only stocks cheap and nasty biros.
In 1990 the “pulse” of the business was monthly - we had monthly briefings, monthly team meetings, monthly reports etc. Nowadays, the pulse of the business is weekly - or even more frequent. Besides the obvious office artefacts - I remember that I used to wear a suit to the office - every day. There was no concept of “dress-down”. Also - I used to take a one hour lunch-break every day. I cannot quite believe that - but it’s true. Also - there were a few friends I had in the office who all socialised together too. I fondly remember the days (practically every day) that we used to hit the West End - Covent Garden etc. Our most popular format for an evening out was starting at the Long Island Iced Tea Shop - this is where we would have some cocktails as we waited for everyone to turn up - and then we’d move on to the Roundhouse - and then on to The WAG in Wardour Street. I am amazed at the energy we used to have in those days. Perhaps I shouldn’t be surprised - our minds and bodies have been dulled as well as stressed by the technological advancements of things like email, Powerpoint, massive hard drives and even bigger H: drives and colour printers along with weekly this, and daily that, and no time for lunch and all that.
1990 was a different world altogether.
Posted by jag at January 20, 2004 06:40 PM“He gave the reason, the reasons he should go
And he said so many things he never said before
And he was oh oh so mad
And I don’t think he’s comin’, comin’ back“
From a song called “All Around The World” by Lisa Stansfield - I remember liking this song in 1990. I also remember having a long debate with someone in the office who said that Lisa Stansfield was a white lass from South Yorkshire - and I was in denial - saying that Lisa Stansfield was a black American soul diva.
There are still overhead acetate projectors in meeting rooms because they almost always work. I’ve even used one professionally this century. OK, so whoever you’re giving the presentation to may not be impressed by scrawly felt pen on smudged plastic, but better that than nothing.
“What do you mean the projector isn’t working?”
“Wasn’t someone from IT supposed to set this up before we arrived?”
“How does this bloody thing switch on?”
“Has anybody got a power cable that fits?”
“Do you think the bulb’s broken?”
“I swear I saved that presentation on my laptop somewhere!”
“Bugger, I stayed up all last night putting this slideshow together!”
“Hang on audience, I pressed the wrong button there…”
I still trust overhead acetate projectors because I know how they work. And because if they go wrong I know what to do. And because I can easily change the order of my slides. And because nobody’ll buy me a laptop.
Posted by: diamond geezer on January 20, 2004 08:48 PMYeah, agree with Diamond Geezer, the PC projectors tend to be missing or broken, especially in an office with lot of meeting rooms. Printing to acetates is always a pain though, either you can’t find them, or they’re not “laser-safe” resulting in them melting inside the printer.
Some things don’t change though:-
Bosses getting best offices/furniture/equipment
Stationery cupboard is still a cave of wonders. At my last job, it had a box of medical rubber gloves, and a torch. Never used them but comforting to know they were there.
No Powerpoint in those days, but everyone used Harvard Graphics instead, and SuperCalc was cheaper than Lotus 1-2-3 (and it ran on a whole load of platforms, from PC to Amstrad PCW).
Life was simpler and slower, and I often ask myself whether we need to live at the speed we do now.
Posted by: Nigel on January 20, 2004 09:27 PMAh DG: nobody will buy you a laptop? That’s criminal! How else would you keep yourself occupied during boring meetings? (Thank goodness for WiFi and MSN Messenger!)
I would have to agree though - there’s something reassuring about the acetate projector on the floor in the corner of the room. I will take heed and promise myself to use it the next time I have something to present at a meeting. And I won’t use Powerpoint or that damned Microsoft clip-art that people go mad with either! Smudgy felt-tip sounds just fine to me.
Nigel: Ha - you made me laugh! I remember the melting acetates too. I’m not sure about the levels of excitement at the stationery cupboard sustaining though. Amongst stacks of cheap rewritable CDROMs and Post-It notes, the most exotic thing in the cupboard these days is the small pile of “Black and Red” spiral bound, hardback, A4-sized day-books. Temptation is too great for me - I always get the urge to steal one! :-)
What on earth were medical rubber gloves and torch doing in your stationery cupboard?
Actually - you’ve just reminded me of an error I made in my posting. I said Visicalc - but I meant SuperCalc. Gosh - memories come flooding back!
Couldn’t agree more re the pace of office life. Sometimes I feel that we create an unnecesarrily frenetic environment by overclocking the pulse of business.
Oh - and thanks DG/Nigel for visiting here!
Posted by: Jag on January 20, 2004 09:56 PMJag - I suspect one of us works in the public sector and one of us works in the private sector. Different worlds…
Posted by: diamond geezer on January 20, 2004 10:08 PMIndeed. Let me guess - you: “public sector”. Me: “private sector”? However: back in 1990 - me was in “private sector” business on the verge of getting used to the fact that it wasn’t “public sector” any more. A product of the “Thatcher generation”. (I was once accused of being just that when I sided with “marketing” during a heated debate about the way in which a new product should be developed. To this day - that accusation still troubles me …)
Posted by: Jag on January 20, 2004 10:16 PMLet’s see, in 1990, I was working in an all-Mac newspaper bureau and we had a leased line connection to our offices on the other side of the country. It was all terribly advanced at the time. They also had microwave connections connecting two Manhattan offices that were across the road from each other. They always told me about the pigeons that would get zapped - I still don’t know whether to believe them or not.
I find it amusing to think even farther back, when the newspaper I worked for was setting out long galleys of type on our little Macs and pasting them up on boards to be send to the printers. Back then, they could output square corners, but hadn’t yet managed to do rounded edges.
Ah, the smell of hot wax in the morning!
Posted by: Lisa on January 21, 2004 01:03 AM1990s - seems like a long time ago. There, I had freedom from all the worldly pleasures - I mean pressures (I should be, I had just begun my schooling. My first exposure to a computer was at my relatives place who had an old 486 (or was it a 386) running 95 that too, I ended up playing Solitaire and Freecell. Good old days.
There wasnt any Net in those days - fixed telephones itself were a rarity. That answers the questions of cellphones - They werent there. The only “advanced” things in my life were the calculator, Television and the Radio.
God, I wonder, if people will be able to survive if put even 15 years back to the past.
Lisa: Media in Manhattan using Macs in 1990 sounds like it was a real buzz! And I’v heard the same about line-of-sight microwave links in London zapping pigeons too! Not sure whether I believe it either - but I know someone who used exactly the same technology in West London - and when he experienced connection problems he would go out on the roof and scare the pigeons away - and his connection would be back to normal - so I do think they interfere - but not certain that they suffer any health problems though!
Sat: I remember solitaire and freecell too! Although I also have a recall of being particularly addicted to something called “minesweeper”.
I agree: goodness knows hoe people would cope if we were to wind back 15 years!
Posted by: Jag on January 21, 2004 09:15 PMI was working for a shipbroker and we had lovely Macs with laser printer and the main broker was looking at getting a plain paper fax machine (they must have cost a fortune then). We also had the latest telex machines (the ones where you could type your text on the screen and amend it before you sent it or do ‘live’ typing and ring bells at the other end. The water clerks had radios to talk to the office from the docked ships. Our boss was a bit of an office equipment freak. We even got to trial an electric stapler, but turned it down when the trial period came to an end as we all found it scary and the poor girl who sat next to it had become a nervous wreck because of the noise it made.
Posted by: stroppycow on January 23, 2004 04:41 PMHi stroppycow - sounds like you had a really hi-tech office back then!
Posted by: Jag on January 24, 2004 11:40 AMin 1990:
5-1/4 floppies, not 3-1/2. Still have a few of those floating around somewhere with those indispensible files (that I could not read with any PC known to me today).
If you wanted a report published, you wrote it up and gave it to the typist. There was no way around this, since the typist had to format it and “release” it, even if you wrote it in a word processor. And the typists had no idea what your report was about, so you always had to proof the first draft and then go back to typing for another round.
I’m not sure if/when the office actually did away with that requirement - I was long gone by then.
And when was it that the WYSIWIG add-in to Lotus actually became a part of the software? Must have been about ‘93 or so.
Posted by: bandiera on January 26, 2004 01:06 PMI used a acetate projector a week or so back…
Reliable and easier to carry a few sheets of plastic than a laptop and projector…
Posted by: James on January 29, 2004 11:49 AMCan I have that acitate projector? It would be quite useful for my studio? serously! :-)
Posted by: margareta on January 30, 2004 11:58 AMIf you think the acetate projector is low-tech - check this baby out!
http://www.oddblogbgod.com/2004_01_01_oddblogbgod_archive.html#107548430601662611
It’s a slide projector which is still used at the Tube head offices :-)
Posted by: James on January 30, 2004 05:38 PMMargareta: It would probably be better served in your studio - I’ve never seen it being used in our office. Problem is: it belongs to the company, not me - so not really sure I could “donate” it to your art studio! :-) But I’m sure you should be able to pick these up second hand dirt cheap - you might even find them being thrown away in skips near office buildings.
James: have commented on your blog posting - amazing!
Posted by: Jag on January 31, 2004 11:36 AM