I have an XP machine here at home and a matching one at the office. Neither are connected to the Internet. They are used to maintain 8085 assembly language that runs on some 2,000 controllers still in use daily. These controllers occasionally need updates to the software and I'm the only one left that knows the software that I wrote starting back in 1985. I could have retired over a decade ago, but the company made me an offer. I also do support via phone for the technicians in the field that maintain these controllers and I occasionally do some circuit board repairs to keep things running. It's actually a pretty sweet gig. :-)

I disagree with your analogy in that when the Internet goes down, Ham radio keeps on working,.

The International (Radio) version of the code is still very much with us. Tune your shortwave radio to just above 7.000 MHz with the BFO turned on and you'll hear lots of activity. It's still used by thousands of amateur radio operators. Now, strictly speaking, you won't hear SOS broadcasts because the marine radio service did away with it for commercial use several years ago. 500 KHz, AKA 600 meters, the distress frequency/wavelength is still monitored at times by some of the museum marine stations and some of the museum ships still check in on that calling frequency when there's an operating event.

I have a couple of them, one a 500 series rotary dial with a switch for two lines, the other is a 320 series phone from 1947, obviously rotary dial and also with a two line switch. They both work fine. The grandkids are fascinated with the rotary dial.

The sound of a teletype machine. I had a model 15 in my bedroom when I was in High School back in the 60s. It was connected to my shortwave ham radio rig. I used it to converse with other hams around the world. I could also tune in on Reuters news and weather bureau reports. Later, I worked as an Engineer at a radio station. A model 15 was how we got our news from the AP wire.

I guess that means they'll be using Unix, BSD or Linux. ((Ducks))

Our last flight was on 9-10-2001 out of LaGuardia. We looked out our window and saw the trade towers the last full day that they stood. It's not that we think the technology of flying is dangerous, it's just the hassle and being treated like cattle that flying involves. My wife and I are both large people, genetically. Flying for us usually involved paying extra for first class or buying the middle seat.

Would I fly in an emergency? Yes, but for now we've decided that if we can't drive there, we don't need to go. I know others who have arrived at the same decision for the same reason.

behind this project?

My wife and I last flew commercial on 9-10-2001 out of LGA, the day before 9-11. My wife and I decided, the next day that, short of an emergency situation, we were done flying commercial. If we couldn't drive to get there, we didn't need to go. It's not because we were afraid of terrorists, but we saw what a hassle and invasion of privacy it would became.

I have a stainless steel self-winding Rolex Explorer that I bought for $157 in Gibraltar in November of 1969. I've had it serviced once. It still keeps very good time. It tells time in the 12 hour system. No day, no date, black face, high contrast very visible hands. It's a basic watch and it's exactly what I want in a watch. I don't think I need a "smart watch" to augment my smart phone. I will admit that I sometimes use a Plantronics Bluetooth headset with the smartphone, in part, to comply with our new laws regarding phone use while driving. That, so far, is the extent of my wearable technology.

which shall remain nameless. I have taught electronics in college two times in my 44 year professional career, working in industry the remainder of the time. Currently, I am teaching only one class per week in the evening. If I taught full time, my pay would be about one third of my pay in industry. That was why I left teaching after 3 years as a full time instructor in the 1980s. I had a family to support and could only make ends meet comfortably by taking on consulting work beyond my teaching. Now, I am nearing retirement and was approached by the Dean of the school out of the blue, so decided to give it a try. I have completed one quarter and got good reviews from the students, so am now starting my second quarter. I view it as something useful to do in retirement.