A bit earlier than me, then. Brought up on log tables and slide rules, we were the first to be allowed electronic calculators in maths "O" level (1974).
Ah, but today's lot have no fear. They've been brought up in a sterile, danger-free environment, so they do not recognize danger when it lurks. When I was teaching, students would cheerfully rearrange their circuits with power applied. Although one managed to explode a 741, in general, solid-state electronics doesn't fight back.
In the end, it's all about attitude of mind; you need controlled and informed fear.
The real sting in the tail of the POTS line was arranging for it to ring while someone had it in their mouth.
48V via a few k tickles, 90V @ 20Hz with enough grunt to ring IIRC 6 mechanical telephone bells is on a whole other level of ouch!
Penny ante solid state doesn't fight back, but may I introduce you to the hockey puck IGBT, when fed from a reasonably stiff 600V rail in a motor driver with plenty of bus cap, can and will detonate with a spectacular amount of flying shrapnel when something goes wrong, there are solid state things that warrant a blast shield.
48V via a few k tickles, 90V @ 20Hz with enough grunt to ring IIRC 6 mechanical telephone bells is on a whole other level of ouch!
Penny ante solid state doesn't fight back, but may I introduce you to the hockey puck IGBT, when fed from a reasonably stiff 600V rail in a motor driver with plenty of bus cap, can and will detonate with a spectacular amount of flying shrapnel when something goes wrong, there are solid state things that warrant a blast shield.
