Since its invention in 1928, magnetic tape has played a role in recording all sorts of data. One of the odder such devices was the Ricoh Synchrofax, an early attempt to bridge visual and auditory worlds. Sold in the United States by 3M as "Sound Paper," it was pitched as an educational tool that could help children bridge sounds and pictures. Youtuber Technmoan got his hands on one and gave it a spin.
While the dialogue is at times quite dated, the Synchrofax/Sound Paper speaks to the growing desire for interactivity in learning devices even before computers were widely available. First sold in the late 50s, Sound Papers were being used as late as the 90s, when students would use them to record songs off the radio.
Considering how cassette tapes are seeing a revival, don't be surprised if some enterprising artist somewhere figures out a way to use Sound Paper today.
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