Adapting to Technology

Perfecting the picture of the early color television set was a job for Dad. Dad was also the producer and director of our 8mm home movies, yet even Dad pulled out his hair when it came to setting up our vintage VCR.

I can remember laughing at the images of the Ford Model T automobiles being started by a hand crank or puttering along at 15 miles per hour. These early TVs, Cameras, VCRs and automobiles were actually simple in comparison to their modern counterparts, but you would not know it by observing their user interfaces.

Humans adapt to early technology.

As technology evolves, it adapts to us.

In adapting to us, the human interfaces get simpler but “under the hood” the technology actually gets far more complex. I call this the Paradox of Simplicity; simple human interfaces hide multiple layers of complexity. Modern devices are designed to be operated by anyone, but serviced only by specialists. In early devices, the user is also the specialist. If the family car breaks down today, Dad will call AAA, or better yet, hit OnStar.