Toni Trucks, an actress known for her roles in The Twilight Saga and Seal Team, joins the discussion about the fascinating evolution of communication technology. They explore how answering machines shaped personal connections in the 80s and 90s and share nostalgic anecdotes about setting up messages. The conversation dives into the AT&T breakup and its impact on competition and innovation. Reflecting on how texting revolutionized communication, they reminisce about early mobile phone experiences and the emotional complexities of modern connections.
The history of the answering machine illustrates how AT&T's monopoly delayed consumer access to innovative communication technologies until the 1980s.
Answering machines transformed family communication by allowing messages to be left and facilitating status updates between parents and children.
The breakup of AT&T in 1984 sparked competition in telecommunications, leading to innovations that changed how consumers interacted with communication devices.
Deep dives
The Beginnings of Answering Machines
The answering machine, initially invented in 1935, faced significant hurdles in reaching consumers due to AT&T's monopoly. It was developed at Bell Labs by Benjamin Thornton but remained buried as AT&T prioritized maintaining their established communication system over introducing innovative technology. Early answering machines recorded messages on magnetic tape or wire, but their prices and lack of consumer interest at the time complicated commercialization efforts. Companies like Tell Magnet and the Electronic Secretary attempted to market the technology but ultimately failed due to prohibitive costs and stiff competition from AT&T.
Nostalgia and Practical Uses of Answering Machines
Answering machines served practical functions for families, providing a crucial method for leaving messages during times when parents were not home. They acted as a familial communication hub, allowing kids to give status updates to their parents, replacing the necessity of instant communication common with today’s texting culture. Listening for blinking lights to check messages became a daily routine, while the ability to leave a pre-recorded message offered a layer of convenience and privacy that contributed to their prevalence. Customized outgoing messages often included humorous or festive themes, highlighting the personal touch families could add to a previously sterile communication process.
Technological Advancements and Their Impact
The answering machine era marked the precursor to various communication innovations, including fax machines and call waiting, emerging due to the breakup of AT&T in 1984. The deregulation of communication technologies led to a Cambrian explosion of devices that enhanced personal and business communication, despite initial limitations. Innovations like cordless phones began to grow as consumers desired more freedom and privacy in communication, changing the way families interacted with the telephone. The technology nurtured new behaviors, such as discussing social plans over answering machines rather than in person or through phone calls.
The Rise and Role of Competition
The breakup of AT&T allowed for competition and new service providers that shifted how telecommunication technologies were utilized. Companies like MCI and Sprint emerged, aiming to win over consumers from AT&T’s stronghold on long-distance calling, introducing pricing and features that prompted individuals to reassess their phone service choices. As more telecommunications companies entered the market, novel concepts such as 1-800 numbers and pagers began to proliferate, capitalizing on both business and personal communication needs. This competitive landscape ultimately led to a more consumer-focused technological era, characterized by diverse services available to users.
The Evolution of Back-to-School Technology
As the telecommunications landscape evolved, home technology saw a substantial change concerning personal privacy and convenience, highlighted by the introduction of features like the second phone line marketed to teenagers. Families increasingly recognized the need for distinct lines to separate personal and familial communication, granting autonomy to younger members of the household. This practice reflected broader societal changes that paved the way for a more youth-centric communication model. The advent of personal devices, combined with the ability to screen calls and manage private conversations, set the stage for the unrestricted, on-demand communication that teenagers enjoy today.
Did you know that we could have had the answering machine decades before we actually got to buy one? Why the 1980s and 90s was an unusual time for an innovation explosion in communications technology. The history of the whole AT&T/Ma Bell breakup by the government. And how much did YOU beg your parents to get your own phone line in your bedroom?
The guest this episode is the actress Toni Trucks. @tonitrucks
