Amy Nicholson

When the word was borrowed from the French in the 17th century, it quickly turned from niche to niche in English. But in the 20th century, more people embraced the more French pronunciation and decided to pronounce it niche. But according to most dictionaries, both are correct. And that is something you should know. So you have your electronic devices, right?

You have a phone, maybe a laptop, a tablet, perhaps a smartwatch or a Fitbit, whatever else. And other than the day-to-day wear and tear on those devices, what is the one thing that will instantly and permanently ruin them? Liquid. You spill coffee on your laptop, goodbye. You drop your phone in the toilet or accidentally take it into the pool, goodbye. Or in my case, the hot tub.

You have a phone, maybe a laptop, a tablet, perhaps a smartwatch or a Fitbit, whatever else. And other than the day-to-day wear and tear on those devices, what is the one thing that will instantly and permanently ruin them? Liquid. You spill coffee on your laptop, goodbye. You drop your phone in the toilet or accidentally take it into the pool, goodbye. Or in my case, the hot tub.

You have a phone, maybe a laptop, a tablet, perhaps a smartwatch or a Fitbit, whatever else. And other than the day-to-day wear and tear on those devices, what is the one thing that will instantly and permanently ruin them? Liquid. You spill coffee on your laptop, goodbye. You drop your phone in the toilet or accidentally take it into the pool, goodbye. Or in my case, the hot tub.

That's the end of that. You can try to repair it, but even if it works again, it never seems to work like it used to. And then there's that thing about putting it in rice. I've heard that it works. I've heard that it doesn't work. And then I've also heard it's bad for your phone.

That's the end of that. You can try to repair it, but even if it works again, it never seems to work like it used to. And then there's that thing about putting it in rice. I've heard that it works. I've heard that it doesn't work. And then I've also heard it's bad for your phone.

That's the end of that. You can try to repair it, but even if it works again, it never seems to work like it used to. And then there's that thing about putting it in rice. I've heard that it works. I've heard that it doesn't work. And then I've also heard it's bad for your phone.

Death by liquid is such a common occurrence for personal electronics that I bet it's happened to you or someone you know. So why can't these devices be made water-resistant? I mean, the people who make watches figured out how to do that a long time ago. This is actually a really interesting topic that I'd never thought much about before, but you know who has, is Rachel Plotnick.

Death by liquid is such a common occurrence for personal electronics that I bet it's happened to you or someone you know. So why can't these devices be made water-resistant? I mean, the people who make watches figured out how to do that a long time ago. This is actually a really interesting topic that I'd never thought much about before, but you know who has, is Rachel Plotnick.

Death by liquid is such a common occurrence for personal electronics that I bet it's happened to you or someone you know. So why can't these devices be made water-resistant? I mean, the people who make watches figured out how to do that a long time ago. This is actually a really interesting topic that I'd never thought much about before, but you know who has, is Rachel Plotnick.

She is an historian and cultural theorist whose research and teachings focus on information, communication, and media technologies. She's author of a book called License to Spill, where dry devices meet liquid lives. Rachel was here a while ago talking about...

She is an historian and cultural theorist whose research and teachings focus on information, communication, and media technologies. She's author of a book called License to Spill, where dry devices meet liquid lives. Rachel was here a while ago talking about...

She is an historian and cultural theorist whose research and teachings focus on information, communication, and media technologies. She's author of a book called License to Spill, where dry devices meet liquid lives. Rachel was here a while ago talking about...

pushing buttons and now she's here to talk about this hi rachel welcome back thank you so much glad to be here so when i first saw this rachel i i thought How is this an issue?

pushing buttons and now she's here to talk about this hi rachel welcome back thank you so much glad to be here so when i first saw this rachel i i thought How is this an issue?

pushing buttons and now she's here to talk about this hi rachel welcome back thank you so much glad to be here so when i first saw this rachel i i thought How is this an issue?

Because my sense is the reason that my devices are not waterproof or water resistant is they don't need to be because it's my responsibility, my personal responsibility to take care of and protect my very expensive and sensitive electronic equipment. That's my job, not the job of the guy who made it.

Because my sense is the reason that my devices are not waterproof or water resistant is they don't need to be because it's my responsibility, my personal responsibility to take care of and protect my very expensive and sensitive electronic equipment. That's my job, not the job of the guy who made it.

Because my sense is the reason that my devices are not waterproof or water resistant is they don't need to be because it's my responsibility, my personal responsibility to take care of and protect my very expensive and sensitive electronic equipment. That's my job, not the job of the guy who made it.

And then what's interesting, as I thought about it more, but isn't it interesting that you don't have to ask too many people, and you will hear a story of phone in the toilet, phone in the hot tub, phone in the pool, phone in the washing machine.