Cassette Futurism

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Welcome to Cassette Futurism Lemmy and Mbin Community.

A place to share and discuss Cassette Futurism: media where the technology closely matches the computers and technology of the 70s and 80s.

Whether it's bright colors and geometric shapes, the tendency towards stark plainness, or the the lack of powerful computers and cell phones, Cassette Futurism includes: Cassettes, ROM chips, CRT displays, computers reminiscent of microcomputers like the Commodore 64, freestanding hi-fi systems, small LCD displays, and other analog technologies.

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Zenith Space Command (duet-cdn.vox-cdn.com)

submitted 2 months ago by sag@lemm.ee to c/cassettefuturism@lemm.ee

27 comments fedilink hide all child comments

The Zenith Space Command, one of the first wireless television remotes ever to exist.

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[–] confusedwiseman@lemmy.dbzer0.com 19 points 2 months ago (3 children)

These were so cool. Didn’t they work by the pitch omitted? When a mechanical lever struck a plate that emitted a tone. The tv then receives the tone and completes the task.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I think it's a noise in the ultrasound spectrum. Humans can't hear it

[–] Chronographs@lemmy.zip 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Na it made a click, that’s why we call remotes ‘clickers’

[–] LovableSidekick@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

The click was the release of a spring-loaded plunger that pushed air through an ultrasonic whistle. The whistle was what controlled the TV or stereo.

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Weird I think I saw a YT video explaing it and this is the info I remembered

[–] Chronographs@lemmy.zip 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Looks like it’s a bit of both: while they did work by emitting an ultrasonic frequency, they also made an audible click. https://www.theverge.com/23810061/zenith-space-command-remote-control-button-of-the-month

I feel like there’s a technology connections video on the topic but I could be hallucinating

[–] sexy_peach@feddit.org 1 points 2 months ago

I feel like there’s a technology connections video on the topic but I could be hallucinating

Yeah me too

[–] Pavidus@lemmy.world 4 points 2 months ago

You're both right, the click actuated the ultrasonic noise, like hitting a xylophone.

[–] AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space 7 points 2 months ago

They were essentially an ultrasonic kalimba

[–] M68040@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago

Yup. Entirely passively powered - no batteries at all. Pretty ingenious stuff.