It’s hard to believe that only 70 years ago colour television was yet to be invented, and there was no such thing as a home computer. People born in the 1950’s lived a more simple life, but have been around to experience the rise of technology and social adaptions.
Since the 1950’s so many things have happened, the rapid advancement from the home phone with party lines to the cell phone, vinyl records to streaming and one room class rooms to online learning.
Wayne Thornton was born in 1950, he says technology has allowed society to grow and every invention has had an impact on how we live our lives today.
He remembers seeing colour TV for the first time and being absolutely mesmerized by it
” We used to get snow on the TV after a program was done, and it was the first time I had ever seen coloured snow. Little red and yellow dots, we would just sit there and watch it and think man this is cool!”
Technological inventions were improved fairly quickly, including music. Vinyl records have stood the test of time, but streaming has become the main way to get music. In 1960 Teresa Bowen remembers having to wait outside a record shop to get the newest album or sit in the car and listen to the radio. 
“We used to have to listen to the radio and put the tape in and hit record as soon as the song came on and wait to hit stop when it was over. Some days I spent hours listening to the radio waiting for the song I wanted to come on.”
Teresa says she feels that society has become a lot more instant compared to when she was a kid, and that patience has been lost over the years.
Through the growth of technology, we now have access to unlimited information 24/7 which is changing the way we live. We expect things to happen at a faster rate, and we lack the separation from technology because it is always at our finger tips.
Social media has taken over a big part of our culture, we use it as a form of entertainment, consume news, build relationships and communicate. It has allowed the world to become even smaller just with the tap of your finger.
Psychologist Nicole Cormier says the major concern that she sees in her office is the acceptance of lack of privacy from her patients due to social media.
” It’s shocking to me to see how open kids are to sharing their daily lives on social media, they have no privacy anymore and it doesn’t seem to bother them. I feel like these kids are growing up in a virtual reality instead of playing out side.”
Technology has its pros and cons, it gives people who don’t have a voice or lack the social skills to make relationships the platform to communicate freely.
We may never get back to the personal connections and community that Wayne had growing up in the 50’s. Or experience something evolving so rapidly you cant keep up with it, but we will always have the curiosity of what is to come.
