KIDS REACT TO OLD COMPUTERS
Why Hacker News recommends it
Cited in discussions of intuitive design and how younger people relate to old technology.
What it is
An episode of REACT in which children try to figure out 1970s-1980s computers, including an Apple II and floppy disks. It was made to promote the AMC show Halt and Catch Fire.
Recommended by 0 HN commenters across 0 different months, 2014 to 2022.
What Hacker News said
Cites UVB-76 · 2014-06 · on “AirType”
Alas, this is a fool's errand. The keyboard is a broken interface, but this isn't an improvement. Suppose I am the user identified in the video. I have a tablet—maybe not a Microsoft Surface, but a tablet nonetheless—and I currently use a slimline keyboard to type. You hand me these. First thoughts: what are they? What do I do with them? Great products are those that someone can be presented with for the first time, and in a matter of seconds figure out what it does, how to use it, etc. Think kids reacting to technology [1] So for argument's sake I read the manual, or you give me a walkthrough. Great, how do I start using them? Oh, they have to 'learn' my writing style? Is my first impressio
Cites frabcus · 2016-07 · on “The Apple Goes Mushy Part I: OS X's Interface Decline”
Yeah, so in this video of at 4 mins 25 seconds they show floppy disks to the kids [this video] The younger ones don't seem to know what one is, but the older ones do.
Cites shagie · 2022-05 · on “I'm a fucking webmaster (2016)”
> The machines didn't do anything when you powered them on, just waited for you to enter code or commands. I am reminded of the old Kids React videos (which themselves are now nearly a decade old)... Kids React to Technology (an old Apple ][+) [this video]