by
Ashlyn Keefe
| May 09, 2016
1943. Somewhere over the Arctic. Captain America crashes his plane into the ocean to save the world. Flash-forward 70 years and he is found alive, albeit a little frozen. He’s thawed out and has a minor shock when he wakes up in the 21st century. But being the good-hearted and steady guy he is, Captain America takes it all in stride. Despite his outward confidence, we’re sure he was surprised by at least some of the technological advances made during his deep sleep. Read on to consider the top five surprising technologies Captain America awoke to:
iPods and Digital Music
Before Captain America went on ice, radio was king. Heck, Captain America even had his own radio drama. So there’s no doubt that the Cap was surprised by the iPod, a shockingly tiny device that can contain thousands of songs. It’s definitely easier than lugging around a phonograph with a box of records! Plus, Captain America woke up to a far greater variety of music to choose from – though we all know he has a special fondness for Marvin Gaye’s Trouble Man.
Cell Phones and Bluetooth
Though the 1940s may seem like forever ago, people and companies at the time did have regular, landline phone service and radio communication. But cell phones and Bluetooth service? Check that as a shocker for Captain America. It sure would have helped to have a cell phone when he was stuck behind enemy lines! While he was probably a little wary of such technology, he’s now a total pro at FaceTiming with his fellow (for now) Avengers.
Television
Captain America crashed into the Arctic before television became a staple of American culture. 1940s in-home entertainment was limited to radio, so you can imagine what a big deal having a television, much less one with over 500 channels, was for the Cap. The question is, what does Captain America watch? We’d guess a lots of baseball — probably the Mets since no true Brooklyn boy would cheer on the Yankees — and binge watching I Love Lucy and Star Trek.
Computers and Software
For a guy frozen more than a couple of years before the first generation of super computers, Captain American had to get comfortable with computers fast. From all the computers and advanced software running the Helicarrier to J.A.R.V.I.S. himself, the Cap had to acquaint himself with tech that seemed every bit as alien as Thor and Loki. As per usual, he took all of it in stride. Almost. We can forgive his slight distaste for computers, since, you know, a giant computer bank tried to kill him.
The Internet
Just imagine the shock this was for Captain America. We take it for granted now, but in his early days the closest thing to global communication was a telegram. Letter writing was a close second. No videos or GIFs included. Learning to use the Internet would have been Captain America’s greatest technological challenge hands down. Plus, he had a whole lot of trending videos to catch up on, not to mention getting on board with social media. But if we can depend on anyone to tackle a challenge whole-heartedly, it’s Captain America.
Ashlyn Keefe is a freelance writer based in the Chicagoland area. Her interests include Doctor Who and equestrianism.