Sony Walkman advert from 1979. 

At once one of the most insanely fascinating and traumatically uncomfortable images I’ve ever seen. A simpler time, for rollerskaters and on-the-fly music lovers alike. And this isn’t even the most enthralling part: enter, the Walkman effect. This refers to “the way music listened to via headphones allows the user to gain more control over their environment“, something we’ve all experienced at least once in our iDriven lives.

Initial models that featured two headphone jacks even included something called a “hotline” switch which, when pressed, activated a microphone which lowered the volume in order to allow those listening to have a conversation without removing their headphones. How’s that for innovation?

Of course, criticisms regarding the potential isolating factors involved in the worldly detachment achieved through plugging and playing cropped up, but how can one even consider the potential for narcissism when they’re tied ear-to-ear, arm-in-arm with their best friend in the whole wide world? and they can chat on the way? Unreal.