My, How Far We Have Come!

Every year, technology advances twice as fast as the year before. Let's look at some everyday items and compare how they looked 50 years ago to how they look now.

1966 Computer

Computer History / Via s7.computerhistory.org$re-zoomed$

In 1966, the development of computer technology was just getting underway. Hewitt Packard introduced its first computer, the HP 2116A (pictured above). Unlike other computers at the time that needed controlled environmental conditions in order to operate, the 2116A was able to function in conditions up to 55º Celsius and with humidity at 95%. It was used to control HP's main product line of testing and measurement equipment.

2016 Computer

MS Power User / Via mspoweruser.com

Everyone knows how far computers have evolved in the last 50 years. Besides being able to access presentations and Facebook everywhere you go, engineers are trying to push the limits to what a computer can do. Take Dmitry Itskov, for example. He is a Russian Internet millionaire, and he's trying to find out a way to upload an entire mind to a computer. We are now living in science fiction times.

1966 Tobacco

Vintage Ad Browser / Via vintageadbrowser.com

In 1966, the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act was established. This made it mandatory that cigarette importers and manufacturers place one of four health-related warnings on all cigarette packaging and advertisements. This later evolved into nine health-related warnings in 2012, as well as led the way for more prohibitive advertising of cigarettes, such as disallowing the advertisement of tobacco products on the television and radio.

2016 Tobacco

Meme Mage Tumblr / Via meme-mage.tumblr.com

The restrictions and stigma of cigarette use has led directly to the rise in popularity of electronic cigarettes. In fact, a whole culture has been built around the act of "vaping," with new technology and ways to vape developing every day. Vaporizers also allow the user to control the amount of nicotine they want to intake. E-liquid manufacturers even sell liquids with no nicotine content.

1966 Camera

Leitz Museum / Via leitzmuseum.org

The Nikon F Photomic T was released in 1966. This was the first Photomic model to use TTL metering, which means light levels were measured through the lens that captured the picture. It was also the first Nikon model to feature the name "Nikon" on the body rather than "Nippon Kogaku," which had been featured on all Nikon cameras previously.

2016 Camera

Gadget Review / Via gadgetreview.com

Even 50 years later, Nikon is still a top camera manufacturer. Modern day dSLRs allow for ultra high-definition pictures that can be captured instantly in JPEG, RAW, or TIFF image formats. These cameras are a favorite for photographers and independent filmmakers alike because they offer incredible versatility. In fact, some of your favorite movies utilized dSLR cameras during their productions.

1966 Coffee

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The coffee percolator was the predecessor to the automatic drip coffeemaker. It was a complex system to brew coffee, using a continuous boiling cycle and gravity to reach the desired strength level. They were popular amongst outdoorsmen and campers because the brew method requires no electricity, just coffee, water, and a campfire.

2016 Coffee

Eater / Via eater.com

The number coffee enthusiasts has risen over the course of the last 50 years, and much like lovers of craft beer, they choose to drink coffee for more than the effects. It's been said that the best way to brew coffee is the tried and true pour over method where one pours boiling water over freshly ground coffee beans slowly over and over again over a set period of time. The demands for this method have grown, and the technological community is here to answer those demands. The Poursteady uses robotics technology to simulate a barista's loving touch to give the drinker a cup of Joe brewed to perfection.

1966 Fast Food

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Fast food was a humble enterprise back in the 1960s. The concept was novel; instead of having to sit down and wait to have your order taken, you'd recite your order to a cashier and get it in what seemed like a blink of an eye. The menus were also simple. In 1966, the Burger King menu consisted of the Whopper, hamburgers, cheeseburgers, french fries, coffee, soft drinks, shakes, and milk. That's it.

2016 Fast Food

Pop Sugar / Via popsugar.com

In the ever-competitive fast food space of 2016, corporations are battling for your dollar by coming up with standout menu items. Not all of the items stand out because of flavor, mind you. What these fast food companies are trying to do is sell you a story about the product. And with the overwhelming success of some of these monstrosities, such as Taco Bell's Doritos Locos Taco, look for fast food to just get stranger and stranger.