The Walkman - ReportThe Walkman - Report

By. Tiffany ChongBy. Tiffany Chong

Structure and PurposeStructure and Purpose The Walkman is a small portable stereo-cassette player, with a pair of The Walkman is a small portable stereo-cassette player, with a pair of

lightweight headphones.lightweight headphones.

It was a music player, and was one of the first small portable personal It was a music player, and was one of the first small portable personal players, included a 50g headphone made especially for it and at a low players, included a 50g headphone made especially for it and at a low price.price.

Technology – How It PlaysTechnology – How It Plays The audiocassette tape used in any tape recorder is coated with magnetic The audiocassette tape used in any tape recorder is coated with magnetic

particles. If the cassette is blank, the magnetic particles will point in random particles. If the cassette is blank, the magnetic particles will point in random directions. directions.

However, when music is recorded, they will automatically fall into a pattern that However, when music is recorded, they will automatically fall into a pattern that is identical to the original sound waves.is identical to the original sound waves.

When the, “Play,” button is pressed,When the, “Play,” button is pressed,the tape passes over a reader, “head,” thatthe tape passes over a reader, “head,” thatcontains the electromagnet, which iscontains the electromagnet, which ishighly sensitive to the patterns recordedhighly sensitive to the patterns recordedon the tape. The head then transmits aon the tape. The head then transmits amatching, electrical signal, to the tinymatching, electrical signal, to the tinydiaphragms in each earpiecediaphragms in each earpieceof the Headphone causing them toof the Headphone causing them tovibrate and create audible musicvibrate and create audible musicsound waves.sound waves.

Technology – How It PlaysTechnology – How It Plays The Walkman consistsThe Walkman consistsof basic features toof basic features toperform such functions as:perform such functions as:play, pause, rewind, fast-play, pause, rewind, fast-forward, record, and stop.forward, record, and stop.

In a basic Walkman, In a basic Walkman, there are two heads, onethere are two heads, oneof which contains twoof which contains twosmall electromagnets.small electromagnets.These two heads recordThese two heads recordthe two separate channelsthe two separate channelsof a stereophonic program.of a stereophonic program.

The tape recorder has two sprockets that engage the spools within the The tape recorder has two sprockets that engage the spools within the cassette. During the recording, or playback, or fast forward, or reverse, cassette. During the recording, or playback, or fast forward, or reverse, the two sprockets spin one of the spools to engage the tape to match the two sprockets spin one of the spools to engage the tape to match the function desired.the function desired.

Technology – How It PlaysTechnology – How It Plays The two heads are fitted below the two sprockets.The two heads are fitted below the two sprockets.

The head on the left side is designed to erase, and wipe the tape clean The head on the left side is designed to erase, and wipe the tape clean before recording.before recording.

The centrally located head, functions as the record and the playback The centrally located head, functions as the record and the playback head, it is the one that contains the two tiny electromagnets.head, it is the one that contains the two tiny electromagnets.

The capstan and pinch roller are fitted on the right.The capstan and pinch roller are fitted on the right.

The capstan revolves at a precise speed and pulls the tape across the The capstan revolves at a precise speed and pulls the tape across the head at the right speed. The standard speed of the capstan is 1.875 head at the right speed. The standard speed of the capstan is 1.875 inches per second. The function of the pinch roller is simply to apply inches per second. The function of the pinch roller is simply to apply pressure in order that the tape is held securely and tight against the pressure in order that the tape is held securely and tight against the capstan.capstan.

The InventionThe Invention Masaru Ibuka, the co-founder of Japan's world-renowned Sony Corp. Masaru Ibuka, the co-founder of Japan's world-renowned Sony Corp.

requested that his engineers design, and create a portable stereo requested that his engineers design, and create a portable stereo cassette player for long business trips.cassette player for long business trips.

On his return, Ibuka was so impressed by his engineers, that he On his return, Ibuka was so impressed by his engineers, that he suggested that the new portable stereo tape recorder be put into full suggested that the new portable stereo tape recorder be put into full production.production.

PricePrice Morita, the company's chairperson encouraged the engineers to Morita, the company's chairperson encouraged the engineers to

develop a player similar to the one they had developed for Ibuka.develop a player similar to the one they had developed for Ibuka.

However, this one had to cost less than ¥40,000 including the However, this one had to cost less than ¥40,000 including the headphones yet provide the same sound quality. Which was around headphones yet provide the same sound quality. Which was around $110 in 1971.$110 in 1971.

Its Coming Of AgeIts Coming Of Age January 01/1979., the Walkman became the must-have item for January 01/1979., the Walkman became the must-have item for

music aficionados and teenagers.music aficionados and teenagers.

However, the craze stopped in 1986s when the first Discman was However, the craze stopped in 1986s when the first Discman was introduced.introduced.

THE ENDTHE END