Apple's Future Computer: The Knowledge Navigator
Why Hacker News recommends it
HN cites it as an early vision of personal software agents and AI assistants, and as a fun retro look at predicted computing.
What it is
Apple's late-1980s Knowledge Navigator concept video, produced under John Sculley, showing a professor using a tablet-like device with a conversational software agent. It envisions hypertext, touchscreens and voice assistants.
Recommended by 1 HN commenters across 1 different months, 2011 to 2024.
What Hacker News said
Recommends rlu · 2014-06 · on “Microsoft's ’90s vision for the smart home looks a lot like today [video]”
These are always fun to watch. Here's one of Apple's versions if you're curious: [this video] Microsoft still maintains its "home of the future". I think they update it every 3-5 years or so. Here's a newer one I found on youtube: [LINK] . It's pretty funny to see how the set, from what I can tell, is basically identical. And here's another Microsoft video about the "future of productivity" made back in 2011: [LINK]
Cites zephjc · 2011-08 · on “Samsung cites Kubrick's "2001" as Prior Art in Patent Case Against Apple”
Are you sure you're not thinking of Apple's Knowledge Navigator concept? [this video] This video is allegedly from 1987. Edit: I changed the link to an expanded video from the early 90s(?) which contains the original video + some other mockup usage examples for OpenDoc
Cites frik · 2015-12 · on “Andreessen: 'In 20 years, every physical item will have a chip implanted in it'”
This. Exactly this. A personal software agent will make a lot of "smart" devices and many apps irrelevant. See Apple's vision from early ’90s: [this video]
Critical 1oooqooq · 2024-06 · on “Steve Wozniak Reacts to Apple's New AI Tools”
it's so funny he still talks about the worst most embarrassing apple ad of all time. [this video] it's so bad it's awesome.