Gen Z Vintage Tech Lovers, You’ll Flip for the Nokia Semaphore

Sick of social media? It’s time to go retro with 18th century flag-based communication. Introducing Nokia Semaphore! The only system designed to cut the noise and let you talk with your hands like an old-timey sailor.

#Colbert #Comedy #Semaphore #Tech

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Watch The Late Show with Stephen Colbert weeknights at 11:35 PM ET/10:35 PM CT. Only on CBS.

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Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology and more. Featuring bandleader Louis Cato and “THE LATE SHOW band,” the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Stephen Colbert took over as host, executive producer and writer of THE LATE SHOW on Sept. 8, 2015.

[laalaastl]

The ending of this sketch really raises a few flags.

[fingal]

OMFG! that semaphore sketch was so unbelievably good it shocked me.

[Panda_Roll]

Grew up in the 80s. Digital cameras? How about a normal one with actual film where you physically had to find a kodak shop to process just to find you forgot to remove the lens cap in half of them!

[samreid]

No joke, when I worked at Home Depot a few of my colleagues and I learned semaphore. We had the flags for leading the forklifts and lift trucks so I suggested we learn basic semaphore for on the shop floor. We could insult customers without them ever realizing what we were saying. One of my coworkers was even able to flash SOS to another team while she was being harassed by a very angry customer

[rbrendel]

"We've got Elizabeth Olsen. You might know her from... the stuff she does." 😂😂😂😂😂 That was amazingly unspecific 😂

[Hawner]

I did NOT see that last bit coming. The whole sketch is very funny, but the end... I bursted out laughing like a maniac. Excellent job to everyone involved in it!

[shotjohnny]

It would have been funny, if they had tried to TEXT for help on a flip-phone.. 😂Remember when you had to press the same key three times to get to the next letter? 😂 I feel old.

[Definitely_not_Andrew_Yoshiaki]

I can't believe Stephen left out the hardcore younger communities who are investing in old school 35mm and 120 film photography, seriously those things are making a big comeback.

[raymondkymsuttle]

That sketch was one of the funniest I’ve ever seen. 😂

[DTFauxClassic]

The flip phone becoming popular again actually makes sense. Smartphones, for all their convenience, are full of apps vying for our time, attention, and money. They're lucky if they're even used to make a call on some days.

But a flip phone is a return to basics. And considering tablets and laptops exist, having one less "do everything" device does have its appeal.

And if this encourages phone companies to come up with cool designs again, sign me up!

[EyesOfByes]

Born in 84...Kids, you have no idea the pain of losing the digital camera back in Paris 2005 at 2AM

[NewMessage]

I... I think they just flagged their own video.

[cowzsay]

The wired headphones thing being "vintage" always annoys me. Audiophile headphones with the best sound quality are always wired. They're never going to be phased out.

[TheDanishGuyReviews]

Wired headphones are retro? It's the only ones I trust. Wireless ones fall out of my ears, and wireless ones connected to each ear like an earmuff hurt my ears. Wired headphones allow my ears space, and can actually stay with my ears through a whole song.

[thurayya]

My father joined the Navy in 1938 and learned semaphore and could send and receive. I remember his story of how, after he first learned, made the mistake of proudly sending to "go ahead and send full speed" to another signalman and promptly regretting it as the man barraged him and he had to ask him to slow down again.

[NewMessage]

Flip phones are hip? Wow. I'm finally ahead of the curve!

[wendigo]

Hey. HEY. Flags don't need batteries.

[ll]

I learned semaphore while I was in the navy cadets in middle school. It's easier to learn than morse code.

[becsterbrisbane]

Vintage tech? Hey, I'm STILL very salty they ended the Blackberry! That thing was AWESOME!

[TSIRKLAND]

So combining Monty Python's "The semaphore version of Wuthering Heights" and "Salad Days" sketches into one modern take on young people. Brilliant. They really are bringing the classics back!