@kibcol1049 I remember dialup to connect to an ad free internet, worse than that I remember punch cards .

@harrymuzz At my first job, the computer room temperature was controlled with double door air lock to enter. The computer was huge with punch card operators typing and huge floor to ceiling reel to reel tapes. The print outs were on large sheets of paper and took several runs for all the errors to be corrected. With programmers, inputters and clerks, there were about 8 staff. Nowadays a kid of 8 or 9 could do it all and more on a smartphone and 30 times quicker! Hard to believe but true.

@kibcol1049 @harrymuzz and if you went into the computer room (normally only to show a visitor round and impress them) you had to put a drawing pin into a cork board at the door, one for each person. So that in the event of a fire and the room being flooded with halon gas, they would know that there were unconscious people inside needing rescued quickly.

@outinthehills @harrymuzz My last job had a massive computer room with banks of computers, servers, alarms and network stuff. Not being in IT now I only went in there occasionally for some minor maintenance tasks. It was a maze of alleyways and corridors. When the fire alarm went off you had 2 minutes to get out before the gas fire suppressant was released, flashing red lights and deafening klaxons increased panic as you struggled to remember the way out. Very scary!