No more typewriters

Since the mass production of typewriters in 1868 the manual typewriter with it's carriage return bell, inky ribbons and finger nail breaking key spacing has been used to produce menus, letters and literary masterpieces. In fact, anything that could be written was typed out.


Electric:
The IBM Selectric typewriter (IBM Golfball) model which was introduced in 1961 was the epitome of modern.  It featured a fixed platen, multi font capability and a rotating type ball that along with the ribbon moved from side to side. 


Electronic:
Technology crept into the office with the advent of the electronic typewriter back in the late 70's. The first versions where as large as standard electric models and had very touch sensitive keys.  Later versions featured mini lcd screens, so that the typist could proof read the text, before printing it onto paper.  


Computers with their word processing power, have become common place in offices and homes around the world. Texting and e-mails are now sent in place of telegraphs, telexes, letters and phone calls. The end of the typewriter era is here -  the last typrewriter manufacturing company - Godrej and Boyce (Mumbai, India)  will no longer be  supplying traditional bodied typewriters, due to lack of demand.  The factory is rumoured to be set to become a refrigerator manufacturing plant. 


The Swintec  company based in Moonachie, New Jersey, however, still manufacture clear body typewriters for governments, prisons, training and correctional facilities around the world.

First Space Tourist - 10 year anniversary

On  the 28th April 2001, American,  Dennis Anthony Tito became the first Space Tourist, his destination the International Space Station.

Mr Tito, who is a millionaire and aerospace engineer  was  70 years old when he joined the  Soyuz TM-32, Russian Space Agency, crew.

During the mission which lasted 7 days and 22 hours the spaceship orbitted the earth 128 times.

Since then there have been six more "personal space explorers"



Image Credit :
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons

Royal Wedding on Bell TV

On the 29th April the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton is going to be covered by TV Channels all over the world.  Of course the royal wedding will be shown on  Bell satellite TV, the ceremony is schedule to take place at 6am EST. Guests will begin arriving around 3am EST at Westminster Abbey. The wedding service will last 1hr 15 mins approximately. 

The newly weds will appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace at 8.25am EST and the flypast at 8.30am EST by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight signals the start of the wedding reception and time for the TV channels to begin their post wedding programing.  

In southern Ontario (Eastern Canada) you can watch event coverage on these channels : 

Royal wedding coverage on Bell TV (satellite) - 29th April 2011

Bell TV Tip: Change the language on a Bell Receiver

Bell TV Tip : Here's how to change the language on your Bell 4100, 5900 or 6100 Model Bell TV satellite receiver

1. Press Menu on your remote
2. Then key in the number  618 (System set up, instalation, language)
3. Select the language of your choice - English or French
4. Select Save

To change the language on any of these satellite receiver models :
5200, 6131, 6141, 9200, 9241 and 9242


Follow the above instructions, but key in number 616 instead.