Wow — that was one hell of a ride. And honestly? I’m totally with the author.
This “Brief Rant” is one of those pieces that sneaks up on you — starts with what feels like a critique of tech hype, and then swerves into something deeper, richer, and honestly kind of inspiring. Like, it’s not just about interface design — it’s a call to remember we have bodies. Hands. Nerves. A whole kinesthetic intelligence we’re just not using when we swipe on glass all day.
I really liked how it re-centered the conversation around human capabilities. We always hear “design for human needs,” and sure, that’s important — but what about what we can do? Our bodies have evolved for interaction in a 3D world, not for dragging pixels around on glass rectangles.
The “Pictures Under Glass” metaphor hit hard. It made me think about how normalized numbness has become in tech. The flat, frictionless world of apps and interfaces is convenient, sure — but it’s also dulling. Tactile, responsive interaction? That’s not a luxury. That’s how we’re wired to engage.
And don’t even get me started on the sandwich example — I’ve never thought so deeply about lunch prep. But now? Every time I slice bread, I’ll be thinking “Is this more interactive than the entire iOS interface?” (Spoiler: yes.)
Also, the author’s tone? Perfect balance between fed-up tech veteran and hopeful visionary. No fake optimism, no over-promising. Just: “Here’s what sucks. Here’s why it matters. Let’s not settle.”
It left me feeling two things at once:
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Frustrated with how low the bar is for what we call “innovation.”
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Excited about the possibilities we haven’t tapped into yet — haptics, tangible interfaces, maybe even something entirely new.
Anyway, this wasn’t just a critique of screens. It was a reminder that vision matters, and that choosing better futures — not just shinier ones — is on us.