Rachel Plotnick

you know, very much at all, which was very threatening to professional photographers who were used to kind of people not having the skills to be able to access that profession. Other things like vending machines and elevators were some of the earliest button usages as well. And all of that, really, the rhetoric was around this idea of anyone can do it. Button pushing is so easy.

you know, very much at all, which was very threatening to professional photographers who were used to kind of people not having the skills to be able to access that profession. Other things like vending machines and elevators were some of the earliest button usages as well. And all of that, really, the rhetoric was around this idea of anyone can do it. Button pushing is so easy.

And I think, you know, Jared, to your point, there was the flip side of that then that was the panic of, oh, my gosh, if anyone can push a button, what does that mean for our society? Because then you do have that question of skill. We've kind of opened up the ranks of these technologies to everybody. But also what happens if this button falls into the wrong hand?

And I think, you know, Jared, to your point, there was the flip side of that then that was the panic of, oh, my gosh, if anyone can push a button, what does that mean for our society? Because then you do have that question of skill. We've kind of opened up the ranks of these technologies to everybody. But also what happens if this button falls into the wrong hand?

And now whose finger is on the button? And do we need to worry about that? So you have kind of this pleasure and panic at work at the same time.

And now whose finger is on the button? And do we need to worry about that? So you have kind of this pleasure and panic at work at the same time.

Yeah, it was it was kind of amazing to me that people were complaining about this even in 1905. You know, you had kids who were running up to people's doorbells and just ringing them when they weren't supposed to or they get behind the wheel of the car and honk the horn. So I guess, you know, this has always been a problem. And I have kids and find myself in the same situation, too.

Yeah, it was it was kind of amazing to me that people were complaining about this even in 1905. You know, you had kids who were running up to people's doorbells and just ringing them when they weren't supposed to or they get behind the wheel of the car and honk the horn. So I guess, you know, this has always been a problem. And I have kids and find myself in the same situation, too.

And it's an issue of control, really. Like my son used to get up at four in the morning just to go turn on the TV. So then we started hiding all the television remotes. Right. And then we forget where we put them. We're opening drawers. So who's got the button? You know, it's all about power in the house.

And it's an issue of control, really. Like my son used to get up at four in the morning just to go turn on the TV. So then we started hiding all the television remotes. Right. And then we forget where we put them. We're opening drawers. So who's got the button? You know, it's all about power in the house.

I think I must have always been a bit of a skeptic because I guess I could have gone the other way and researched touchscreens and been like, this is the future. Let's look at this. But something instinctually, I guess, told me, hey, let's look at buttons. And I think that certainly bore out. And maybe part of it is nostalgia now. Part of it is...

I think I must have always been a bit of a skeptic because I guess I could have gone the other way and researched touchscreens and been like, this is the future. Let's look at this. But something instinctually, I guess, told me, hey, let's look at buttons. And I think that certainly bore out. And maybe part of it is nostalgia now. Part of it is...

you know, a society that's become a little bit burnt out on screens and is tired of having to look at screens all the time. But I think even then I had the sense in 2009 of anytime people say the death of something is coming, I'm always a little bit skeptical because that seems so dramatic. And we've seen with many technologies that, you know, they tend to come back over time.

you know, a society that's become a little bit burnt out on screens and is tired of having to look at screens all the time. But I think even then I had the sense in 2009 of anytime people say the death of something is coming, I'm always a little bit skeptical because that seems so dramatic. And we've seen with many technologies that, you know, they tend to come back over time.

Like, look at all the people into vinyl records now. So I'm not convinced that a lot of things, you know, really ever die out.

Like, look at all the people into vinyl records now. So I'm not convinced that a lot of things, you know, really ever die out.

I think that you're right. You know, there are a lot more kind of affordances to what a digital button can do now. And, you know, thinking about sound and feel and all of that. But at the end of the day, it's still a visual technology. And, you know, that's what I always remind people is that we call it a touchscreen, but it's a screen it's meant for looking at.

I think that you're right. You know, there are a lot more kind of affordances to what a digital button can do now. And, you know, thinking about sound and feel and all of that. But at the end of the day, it's still a visual technology. And, you know, that's what I always remind people is that we call it a touchscreen, but it's a screen it's meant for looking at.

And if you think about trying to operate your phone or your car touchscreen with your eyes closed, you're not going to get that far. And if you're blind, you're definitely not going to get that far.

And if you think about trying to operate your phone or your car touchscreen with your eyes closed, you're not going to get that far. And if you're blind, you're definitely not going to get that far.