Let's See How Far We've Come: 1975

There's something endlessly captivating about seeing how the tools and devices we use evolve, especially when you take a step back and consider just how far we've come. Over the next few months, I plan to embark on a journey through the last 50 years, stopping at each five-year mark to reflect on the technological landscape of the time. The aim? To understand not only what these advancements meant in their day but also how they shaped the world we live in now. From home electronics and computers to telecommunications, film, and television, this series is as much about nostalgia as it is about understanding the threads that tie the past to the present. I hope you'll join me as I chart the story of human ingenuity and innovation. Today, we start in 1975.

When you think of 1975, a picture of avocado-green kitchens and brown or orange shag carpets might come to mind. It was a world where home appliances were heavy and beige, televisions were bulky, and the very idea of a personal computer was more fantasy than reality. Yet, this year was pivotal—a time when the seeds of the digital revolution were just beginning to sprout.

The big headline for 1975 was the introduction of the Altair 8800. Often dubbed the first personal computer, this unassuming box with switches and blinking lights was far removed from the sleek laptops and smartphones we use today. The Altair wasn’t a computer in the way we think of them; it didn’t even have a monitor or keyboard. Instead, it was a kit that hobbyists could assemble themselves, and its primary interface was a series of switches and LEDs. Despite its rudimentary nature, the Altair was revolutionary. It inspired two young enthusiasts, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, to create a version of the BASIC programming language for the device. That collaboration laid the foundation for Microsoft—an influence so profound it’s impossible to overstate.

Home entertainment in 1975 was defined by the cathode-ray tube (CRT) television. Colour TV was becoming more accessible, but it was far from universal. Watching television meant adjusting rabbit-ear antennas to get a clear signal, and the choice of channels was limited. The year saw significant advancements in video recording technology, with Sony introducing the Betamax video cassette recorder (VCR). Although Betamax would eventually lose the format war to VHS, its release was a monumental step towards the on-demand media culture we take for granted today. Imagine explaining to someone in 1975 that one day they’d be able to stream entire seasons of a TV show in one sitting—the concept would have seemed absurd.

Music, too, was undergoing a transformation. The compact cassette was rapidly becoming the medium of choice for audio enthusiasts. Portable cassette players like the Sony Walkman wouldn’t appear until 1979, but the groundwork was being laid. In 1975, music was consumed through vinyl records and cassette tapes, often played on massive hi-fi systems that took up significant living room space. The idea of carrying thousands of songs in your pocket, as we do with modern smartphones, was as far-fetched as flying cars.

Telecommunications were equally grounded in the physical. The rotary dial telephone was still a household staple, with push-button models slowly gaining popularity. Long-distance calls were expensive and usually reserved for special occasions. This was also the year that the first commercially available portable mobile phone was introduced: the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X. Calling it portable is generous; it was enormous by today’s standards and weighed over two kilograms. Still, it marked the beginning of mobile communication, a precursor to the smartphones that have become extensions of ourselves.

In the realm of film, 1975 gave us Steven Spielberg’s “Jaws,” a movie that not only terrified beachgoers but also changed the way films were marketed and released. “Jaws” was the first summer blockbuster, setting a precedent for the big-budget, high-concept films that dominate cinemas today. On the technical side, the film’s animatronic shark was a marvel of engineering for its time, even if it was famously temperamental. Watching it now, the mechanical nature of the shark is evident, but in 1975, it was nothing short of breathtaking. The film’s impact on storytelling, marketing, and special effects is still felt in Hollywood.

Television content in 1975 leaned heavily on family-oriented programming and variety shows. Shows like “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” and “All in the Family” tackled social issues with humour and sensitivity, pushing the boundaries of what TV could address. Meanwhile, British television was producing gems like “Fawlty Towers,” showcasing a distinctly dry and satirical wit. The production values might seem quaint compared to today’s polished streaming dramas, but the storytelling and performances were timeless.

When we compare the technology of 1975 to today, the contrasts are striking. A single smartphone now outstrips the computing power of entire rooms filled with equipment from that era. The ability to instantly communicate with someone across the globe, access a universe of information, or stream a film in high definition would have been the stuff of science fiction. Yet, it’s essential to remember that every innovation we enjoy today stands on the shoulders of these early advancements. The Altair 8800 paved the way for personal computing, just as Betamax opened the door to home video recording. Even the unwieldy Motorola DynaTAC set the stage for the smartphones that now dominate our lives.

One of the most fascinating aspects of looking back is recognising the legacy of these technologies. Take the Altair 8800, for instance. While it might seem laughably primitive now, it ignited a spark in a generation of tinkerers and engineers. It showed that computing could be personal, that it didn’t have to be confined to large corporations or academic institutions. This democratisation of technology is a thread that continues to run through every innovation that followed.

Similarly, the introduction of Betamax, despite its eventual commercial failure, demonstrated the potential of recording and replaying video. It’s hard not to draw a line from that to the DVRs, on-demand streaming services, and even user-generated content platforms like YouTube that define our current media consumption habits.

Reflecting on 1975 also brings a sense of nostalgia for a slower pace of life. Technology today is relentless, always pushing us to do more, see more, and be more connected. In 1975, the absence of constant connectivity meant that entertainment and communication were more deliberate. Watching TV was a shared family activity; listening to music often involved sitting down and giving it your full attention. There’s something to be said for that simplicity, even as we marvel at the conveniences of the modern world.

As I continue this series, I’ll keep coming back to this idea of legacy and influence. Every five years, we’ll see how these foundational technologies evolved, how new ones emerged, and how each era shaped the next. It’s a reminder that innovation doesn’t happen in a vacuum; it’s a cumulative process, one that builds on the successes and failures of what came before.

So, that’s 1975. A year of big ideas and small beginnings, of blinking lights on a computer kit and the terrifying menace of a mechanical shark. It was a year that showed us what was possible and hinted at what was to come. As we move forward, I’m excited to see how these threads weave together into the tapestry of modern technology. Let’s see how far we’ve come.