Reflections of the authors, Colin, Qaalfa and Steven …

We remember: ■ when Colin’s wife Lorraine said, “Why would I want to have a mobile phone or use email?” ■ when mobile phones were so small they could fit in an attaché case ■ when the remote control was the kids! ■ when lemonade soda was delivered to your front door ■ using a payphone ■ when no car had air conditioning ■ not having the internet ■ not having a computer at home or at work ■ photocopying memos to share with the team ■ being in the queue in the 1970s when the first McDonald’s opened in London, England ■ when supermarkets were a new concept ■ typing pools at work ■ when there was no such thing as political correctness ■ when kids played in the street ■ when the insurance man used to collect your money from your house ■ black and white television ■ when you didn’t have to wear seat belts in a car ■ when writing a check made out to yourself was the only way to get cash from the bank ■ when it was a big deal that a calculator didn’t require batteries — solar power had arrived ■ when music portability went from vinyl 45s to eight-track to cassette tapes to CDs ■ when you bought an extra-long cord for the phone so you could speak with some privacy in the other room.