Book idea:
User interfaces for various modes of transportation: cars, trains, planes, buses. Not just pretty pictures, but also principles of operation, good stories, and – most importantly? – hacks and conventions.
(Inspired by: )
User interfaces for various modes of transportation: cars, trains, planes, buses. Not just pretty pictures, but also principles of operation, good stories, and – most importantly? – hacks and conventions.
(Inspired by: )
(Here’s an example of a San Francisco Muni bus with some interesting foot UI, but also a rogue cardboard extension of the most important switch.) 
(And here’s some hand labeling on a control panel of a movable bridge in Chicago. Imagine all these with annotations, explanations, and stories!)
Book idea: Older PR photos of computers/technology with modern observers giving context or lamenting the inaccuracies.
For example, Christmas lights (sic) installed in the Univac console for TV in 1952 so it looked more interesting.
(Inspired by .)
For example, Christmas lights (sic) installed in the Univac console for TV in 1952 so it looked more interesting.
(Inspired by .)
Book idea: no-signal states, error states, start- and end-of-program states… throughout ages. Coffee table book, probably? But with context and stories.
Book idea: A collection of transit map that tell stories they don’t intend to. (For example, my uncle has this Berlin subway map on his wall and it’s easy to tell it’s from before 1991.)
Book idea:
A collection of screenshots of various internal tools (at companies) never seen by public and a discussion about what they’re for, how they work, their peculiarities, shortcuts they take, etc.
E.g.
A collection of screenshots of various internal tools (at companies) never seen by public and a discussion about what they’re for, how they work, their peculiarities, shortcuts they take, etc.
E.g.
Book idea:
A timeline of examples of anthropomorphized computers, each with context about why it was done, what was it trying to accomplish, what was people’s perception of machines at any given time.
A timeline of examples of anthropomorphized computers, each with context about why it was done, what was it trying to accomplish, what was people’s perception of machines at any given time.
Book idea: This thread, as a recursive book. History of tech through its words. You start with a word derived from old technology (e.g. “dialing”), and explain it. That definition uses words derived from *older* technologies, and you have to do it again.
