History of the Button

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Bill DeRouchey

Radio Buttons Create "Save"

Where did the idea of "saving" arrive in technology? Would you believe... within radio buttons?

And we are back!

The History of the Button is returning. After a seventeen year hiatus, it's time to retell the story, only better. From cameras and flashlights to the digital explosion of today. What's happening now?

Evolution of Symbols @CyborgCamp

Last weekend, I attended and spoke at CyborgCamp. It was a helluva thing. It’s incredibly energizing to get a bunch of smart and thoughtful people in a room together for a day to talk about the intertwinement between people and technology. Ward Cunningham was a joy to watch and

Pinball and bowling alleys and flow

Recently, I played pinball and went bowling in the same week. The two games will always be linked together for me because that’s where I first really experienced interaction design: the bowling alley. I enjoy saying that I grew up in a bowling alley. There’s tiny me camping

The Bird's Nest moment

My mind is blown. Your mind is blown. Anybody who watched the Opening Ceremony at the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics had their mind blown. Spectacular. Big. Incredible. Historical. No verbs can be found. I’d go as far to say that this was the most incredible experience ever designed. The

1887: Pushbuttons in the Times archive

The Times (London, not New York) has recently opened its entire archives from 1785-1985 to the public, an incredible trove of history. So naturally, I search for “push-button”, since “button” returns too many bits about clothing. The first mention of “push-button” in The Times is from March 9, 1887 on

Blow Hard: best control ever?

This may possibly be the most amazing control in the history of controls. Found by a friend on a hotel air conditioner. There are clearly only two options, blow hard or blow harder. Otherwise, just stop. Of course, the usual method for designing an air speed control is a range

Language of Interaction (from Interaction08)

For my talk at Interaction08, I published a paper to accompany the talk, and then hosted it at a separate site. I’d like to bring it into here, continuing the theme of bringing everything under one roof. Enjoy! Abstract We are interaction designers during a time of rapid technological

Interaction08: Wow, what a weekend

Interaction08 ended a few days ago and I’m still recovering from the firehose of information, inspiration, community and general yay, not to mention the excess of fried food and meats and the dearth of sleep. This was no question the best professional conference I have ever attended. Seriously. The

1957: "Push de button"

Yet more clues of seeing how the button was incorporated into the culture. Check out these lyrics from “Push de Button” from the Broadway musical “Jamaica,” by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. 1957. Sung by Lena Horne. Push de button, Up de elevator, Push de button, Out de orange juice.