Why Apple's Macintosh was revolutionary

+ school robots US Edition - Today's top story: Mac at 40: User experience was the innovation that launched a technology revolution [View in browser]( US Edition | 20 January 2024 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( The famous Super Bowl commercial teasing the launch of Apple’s Macintosh personal computer was an eye-catching riff on George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984.” It was so eye-catching that over the years it has come to overshadow the product it promoted. The Macintosh, unveiled 40 years ago, was revolutionary, but not for the reasons you might think. The Macintosh was not the first computer to have a graphical user interface or a mouse. University of Washington computer interface researcher Jacob O. Wobbrock [explains what made the Macintosh unique](: innovation that transformed not only computing but all manner of consumer products and sparked the field of user experience. This week we also liked articles about the [safety of the planes Boeing makes](, [avocado toast memes]( and [artificial reefs](. [ [Get a global perspective on the news, with the best of The Conversation’s journalism from around the world, twice weekly.]( ] Eric Smalley Science + Technology Editor The original Macintosh computer may seem quaint today, but the way users interacted with it triggered a revolution 40 years ago. Mark Mathosian/Flickr [Mac at 40: User experience was the innovation that launched a technology revolution]( Jacob O. Wobbrock, University of Washington Apple’s phenomenal success and the field of user experience design can be traced back to the launch of the Macintosh personal computer. An investigator examines the frame of a Boeing aircraft whose door plug blew out in flight. National Transportation Safety Board via AP [Boeing door plug blowout highlights a possible crisis of competence − an aircraft safety expert explains]( Daniel Kwasi Adjekum, University of North Dakota Boeing is under increased public and government scrutiny in the wake of dangerous events that have people worried about the safety of air travel. Some researchers predict social robots will become common in K-12 classrooms. selimaksan/E+ Collection/Getty Images [What social robots can teach America’s students]( Gerald K. LeTendre, Penn State Social robots can be useful tools to help students learn about programming, but here’s why they won’t be replacing classroom teachers anytime soon. - [Chef Bill Granger dies and leaves behind an inadvertent legacy – the avocado toast meme]( Aarushi Bhandari, Davidson College Granger, who died in December 2023, is credited with making avocado toast fashionable. Little did he know that his lasting legacy would inspire a meme that symbolized generational tension. - [Not all underwater reefs are made of coral − the US has created artificial reefs from sunken ships, radio towers, boxcars and even voting machines]( Avery Paxton, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; D'amy Steward, University of Guam Artificial reefs are structures that humans put in place underwater that create habitat for sea life. A new study shows for the first time how much of the US ocean floor they cover. - [Connecting researchers and legislators can lead to policies that reflect scientific evidence]( Taylor Scott, Penn State Researchers want real-world impact. Lawmakers want programs that work. The public wants to benefit from taxpayer-funded research. Building a bridge from academia to legislatures is key to all three. - [US law permits charities to encourage voting and help voters register, making GOP concerns about this assistance unfounded]( - [I’m an artist using scientific data as an artistic medium − here’s how I make meaning]( - [Trump defends himself to the Supreme Court, saying he called ‘for peace, patriotism, respect for law and order’ on Jan. 6 and is not an insurrectionist]( - [Iceland battles a lava flow: Countries have built barriers and tried explosives in the past, but it’s hard to stop molten rock]( - [Latin America’s colonial period was far less Catholic than it might seem − despite the Inquisition’s attempts to police religion]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- [The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz]( Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation Here’s the last question of [this week’s edition:]( Wayne LaPierre announced his resignation as head of the National Rifle Association just days before the NRA's civil fraud trial began in New York. Which of these is a quote from LaPierre's resignation statement and not a quote from Mohandas Gandhi? - A. "I have no weapon but love" - B. "My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever" - C. "Where there are cowards, there will always be bullies" - D. "If I am to die by the bullet of a madman, I must do so smiling" [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Threads]( • [Bluesky]( • [Mastodon](• [Post.news]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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