Obsolete Tech trivia
Obsolete Tech Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
What did the nickname "beeper" describe about pagers?
The nickname "beeper" came from the audible tone that alerted wearers to an incoming page.
What did the tracking control on a VHS VCR mainly correct?
Tracking shifts the VCR's video heads slightly to match recorded tracks, reducing snowy bands or rolling lines.
How does a rotary phone send a dialed digit to the telephone exchange?
Each digit produces a counted series of make-and-break interruptions in the line circuit.
What controls a rotary phone's dial return speed?
The governor uses spinning weights and friction to keep the dial's return motion steady for pulse counting.
Why did viewers rewind VHS tapes after watching them?
Playback moves tape from one reel to the other; rewinding puts the recorded sequence back at the beginning.
Which part of a 3.5-inch floppy disk gave the format its name?
The 3.5-inch shell was rigid, while the thin magnetic medium inside could flex.
What did the small plastic tab on a VHS cassette protect against?
Removing the tab signals a VCR not to record; covering the opening with tape lets owners record again.
What did a classic numeric pager commonly display?
Numeric pagers usually showed a phone number or code, prompting the recipient to find a telephone and call back.
What does sliding open a 3.5-inch floppy disk's corner tab make the drive do?
The exposed tab signals the drive to allow reading but reject attempts to change the disk's data.
How does a floppy disk record computer data?
A floppy disk's coated surface stores bits as different magnetic orientations that the drive's head can read.