From rockets to robots to RAM modules, technology is one of the most diverse areas of study in the 21st century. It covers almost every aspect of our lives and is a part of innumerable research projects.
A field thats growing at such an exponential rate – technology – is sure to have some weird but true facts that nobody has heard of. But how does one keep up with all the riveting trivia in such a vast field?
Dont worry, we have you covered!
Here are some weird but true facts about technology you can flaunt!
The QWERTY keypad is supposed to slow down your typing!
Image Source: Giphy
In the days of a manual typewriter, if you typed too fast, the keys would get jammed, and the entire machine would get stuck. So, the QWERTY keypad places alphabets that are frequently used together at a distance from each other. The idea was that if you type slower, the machine wont get jammed! As we moved to digital devices, the risk of jamming the machine reduced. But for some reason, this format stayed put!
There once lived a computer that ran on water!
Image Source: Giphy
In 1936, Russian scientist, Vladimir Lukyanov, built an analogue computer that could solve differential equations. What was special about it? It used water to make the calculations! Built with a set of complicated water-filled tubes, you could adjust the level of water in different parts of the machine to solve the equation!
The first computer mouse was made out of wood!
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
American scientist, Douglas Engelbart, built the first computer mouse in Stanford University in 1964 out of wood! It had one tiny button on its top, and a long chord to help with navigation. Engelbart named his invention a mouse because he thought its chord looked like the tail of a rodent!
5 MB of computer memory once weighed 1 tonne!
Image Source: Giphy
IBM built the first computer with a hard disk in 1956. A huge machine, it had the storage capacity of 5 megabytes (5 MB) and weighed close to 1000 kg! The whole 5 megabytes of storage were spread across 50 large aluminium disks. In comparison, today we can find hard disks with 1 terabyte (1 terabyte = 1000000 megabyte) storage that weigh only a few hundred grams!
You could send an email before the internet existed!
Image Source: Giphy
Before the internet existed as we know it, you could still send an email if your computer had a wired connection with another computer. While there were no websites or URLs at this point in the 1970s, there were designated webpages for tasks. Webpage number 7776 was used for sending emails!
The first alarm clock only rang at 4 am!
Image Source: Giphy
When American inventor, Levi Hutchins, made the first alarm clock in 1787, he built it to ring only at 4 am so he could get up for work! It wasnt until 1847 that French inventor Antoine Redier added a mechanical component with which you could adjust your alarm time!
Did you know any of these weird but true facts of technology before? Let us know in the comments below!
Liked this? Read more stories like this
Do you have to be a human to make art? How computers are taking over creativity
Deepthi is an ambivert who is on a steady diet of good food, filter coffee, and self-improvement. Being an ardent reader, storytelling has been her first love and she enjoys exploring how to convey stories compellingly. Having studied psychology and experienced the learning and development field, Deepthi is driven to understand human behavior and to know what makes each of us unique. You are most likely to find her tucked into a cozy corner at a local cafe with a Kindle or a book in hand. If you find her there, stop by and say hello, she'd be eager to learn your story too. Until then, you can ping her at storyweavers@byjus.com for anything you may like to share.
Arya C is a 4th grader who talks about her transition from the US to India and how BYJU`S has helped her at that. She also loves how BYJU`S has made learning a lot more fun.
Meet Sourabh who has a ton to say about his BYJU`S learning experience. His love for quizzes, games and other fun activities are paying off!
V Shriya is a class eight student who has been using BYJU?S for a year now. She shares her experiences with using the app and how it has helped her in improving her academic performance.
Aanvi from class 9 has been with BYJU`S for just 6 months and hear what she has to say about her learning experience with the app.
Comments
Uday Raj Khatri
September 30, 2020
Fascinating! ??
Naina
September 30, 2020
Magnitude
Swastika Sanghi
October 2, 2020
Only the mouse one
Alokendra Mandal
October 3, 2020
Wow!! Some facts are really weird ? but they are very interesting ?!!
Specially the fact about QWERTY Keyboard.?
Sanatan singh
October 4, 2020
AWESOME
Desheeba Nehal Odakkal
October 7, 2020
Interesting 8-), wierd:-) AWESOME ?
Especially “the clock rang only at 4?”