Before there was Twitter, there was…the “Notificator.”
Seriously. See the description of the world’s pre-digital Twitter, below, culled from the August 1935 issue of Modern Mechanix—reprinted on the Modern Mechanix blog (and filed, alas, under both “General” and “Useless Tech”):
Robot Messenger Displays Person-to-Person Notes In Public
TO AID persons who wish to make or cancel appointments or inform friends of their whereabouts, a robot message carrier has been introduced in London, England. Known as the “notificator,” the new machine is installed in streets, stores, railroad stations or other public places where individuals may leave messages for friends. The user walks up on a small platform in front of the machine, writes a brief message on a continuous strip of paper and drops a coin in the slot. The inscription moves up behind a glass panel where it remains in public view for at least two hours so that the person for whom it is intended may have sufficient time to observe the note at the appointed place. The machine is similar in appearance to a candy-vending device.
Twitter is like Nazi Germany and the English language is like Poland. Just a vicious, deplorable, unprovoked attack.
#1 Posted by Freedom Tent, CJR on Thu 25 Jun 2009 at 07:02 PM
shades of "brave new world"? or that other one where the rats come to chew on his face? Big Brother can always be counted on to know your closest fears. 1984.
#2 Posted by jess, CJR on Thu 25 Jun 2009 at 10:39 PM
Um, I kind of think the Notificator is awesome. I can certainly recall times, in the days pre-cell phone, when something like this would have been useful. Not quite sure this falls into the Big Brother category, unless you're paranoid.
#3 Posted by laura k, CJR on Fri 26 Jun 2009 at 11:43 AM
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you.
#4 Posted by BD, CJR on Sat 27 Jun 2009 at 11:11 PM