Sony Had a Video Picture Phone in the '80s Before Video Calls Were Cool

Vintage electronics are one of those things that remind us of how fast time passes, and how humanity has progressed beyond it, accomplishing advancements in technology one after another in just a few decades.

Depending on your age, you might not actually remember this, but Sony had a knack for developing oddball devices just for the fun of it back in the day, and this $499 video picture phone from the late 1980s is one of them. While our smartphones nowadays have great photography and filming capabilities, such portable devices were unusual in the 80s, and in this video by YouTube channel Techmoan, you can travel back in time to see this forgotten treasure.

The YouTuber described using the device as "like sending a fax mid-telephone conversation," and it is essentially a selfie phone that lets you shoot a black and white photo and send it to whoever you choose. If you're curious to see it in action, make sure you watch the video embedded above and enjoy!