Link to Video: https://archive.org/details/0785_Dialing_Tips_06_00_58_19
The short film Dialing Tips (1950), is an instructional film made to teach people how to operate dial telephones. It goes over very basic procedures of how and where to find a number, how to physically use a dial telephone, and what the audio signals are for "ringing" and "busy". The video is very straightforward, but when looked at today, it can provide some very interesting and even humorous glimpses into aspects of the popular use of telephones in the 50's.
The prospect of the very film itself provides insight on the reception of the then new technology of the telephone. The fact that a film was made and put on broadcast (which is infinitely easier today) for the sole purpose of teaching a seemingly very simple task shows that while we may perceive these devices as very simple today, that was not the case at all back when the technology was new. The easy process of finding a number (in which they used directories as opposed to online sources of today), dialing the number into the phone, and waiting for a reply must have been a fascinating new venture for people of that time.
It is easy for us to take for granted the ease in which we can use our many devices today. While we may be characterized as digital natives for our literacy in the modern technologies we were born around, the same division of generations could have been considered in that time period as well. For all we know the prospect of telephone natives and telephone immigrants could have been a discussed topic throughout the 1950s and on. It is easy to see the attempted bridging of those two parties through films such as this, as the same could be said for online tutorials and classes of today.
I agree with you, this video is a little humorous. Considering how far we've come since the 1950's telephone, it seems almost silly to be taught how to properly call someone. Though it seems strange now, in today's society I know we have hundreds of thousands of how-to's regarding our modern technologies. There's most likely a "How-to Use an iPad" that I'm sure many people use, especially the older generation who is unfamiliar with society's digital advancements. I bet in fifty years, the generation of the 2060's era will be laughing at us. I can't imagine what new technologies will be invented by then. Our modest iPhones, Blu-Ray players, and touch screen computers will seem like nothing compared to what will be around then.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, my family still had a phone that dialed with that wheel thing. It was apparently the most confusing thing for my grandma. I find that funny, but it makes sense because it was a new technology. It's interesting watching a video like this because my grandma relied heavily on such instructions. I find it unnecessary, but it's probably because of what you said about such technology being so simple to us. I can only imagine watching how to videos from now in the future.
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