“What you’re looking at [on the left] might seem like an early to mid-90’s predecessor to the iPad, but you might be surprised to learn that the device, called the Dynabook, was conceptualized in 1968 by famed computer scientist Alan Kay,” Edible Apple explains. “The device was envisioned as an educational tool and was naturally geared towards children, as evidenced by a 1972 research paper titled ‘A Personal Computer for Children of All Ages’ that Kay published while working at the legendary Xerox Palo Alto Research Center.”
“In a somewhat famous exchange, after Jobs intro’d the iPhone, Jobs approached Kay (who used to work at Apple in the mid 80’s) and asked him if the device was ‘good enough to criticize.’ Kay responded, ‘Make the screen at least 5″x8″ and you will rule the world,'” Edible Apple reports. “With the iPad, Apple has heeded that advice.”
Edible Apple writes, “The iPad has the potential to change the way we as a society use and interact with technology, and while Apple deserves credit for bringing the iPad to life, we should at least be aware that the idea for such a device didn’t magically appear on a whiteboard in an Apple boardroom out of thin air.”
Full article here.
Think Different. Folks like Alan Kay certainly have.
Thanks Alan
Apple made our dreams come true
It takes a perfectionist like Jobs to *ask* for criticism, and listened.
Adobe, Google, and Microsoft would have just automatically start defending their product and dismiss the criticism.
MW: values
Very few things actually appear from thin air! “We stand on the shoulders of giants!”
Big ideas – truly revolutionary ideas – are few and far between. The real magic happens, though when people take those big ideas and put them into practice, making them into something usable, productive, and even entertaining.
Apple has mastered the art of taking big ideas and weaving them into the usable, productive and entertaining products we all know and love.
Keep it up, Apple!
WOW!!! And I’ll even say it backwards – WOW!!!
Changing the world, with one product at a time.
When they invent something, they don’t cut corners, they’re not afraid to take big risks, and they never accept anything but a perfect, intuitive user interface.
When they see a competitor’s product, that they deem to be short of it’s potential, they take their own philosophy, and apply it to existing products to make them revolutionary.
Though of course Apple were working on a tablet before the iPhone. Steve said the iPhone idea occurred to them during the tablet R&D;.
Isn’t it amazing how little Xerox benefited from the spectacular work done at PARC. And yet I am sure the senior management made obscene amounts of money but did not know how to be more than a 1 trick pony. Most senior managers are not worth near what they are paid.
Some things that never offend me:
1. Calling me an Apple Fanboy. Go ahead, I don’t care. I got my first computer in 1985 and it was running ……. “Windows 95” ten years before Gates stole it. I’m a fanboy of a computer that’s stayed 10 years out in front most all of those years (those rough dark years, not so much.)
2. Saying that Apple doesn’t invent stuff. So? Who cares? Being first with an idea is no big deal. Taking an idea, having a vision of how to use and implement that idea and creating a product that sells — that’s a big deal.
@Al
Yes, it is amazing, especially because they had products available using their inventions. The company I worked for in the 80’s sent me to evaluate the Xerox ‘Star’ information system which had a graphical user interface, trash can, folders, a mouse, and was networked. The software included mail, calendar, address book, word processor, spreadsheet, and file/print sharing. It was mini computer based and all the hardware/software was proprietary, but what an amazing system. We didn’t get one because it was too expensive.
Takes a big man (or woman) to listen and recognize limitations
Apple isn’t claiming it invented the tablet computer – Apple just claims it made the tablet computer do what people need and want it to do, and to do so easily.
Motorola didn’t invent the idea of a cordless/mobile phone, but the Star Tac made mobile phones easy and useful.
Coming up with an idea is easy (although Alan Key was obviously visionary), the hard part is making it work well and easy to use.
And that’s Apple’s specialty.
That photo sort of reminds me of my Speak & Spell from the 80’s.
Today it’s hard to appreciate how visionary the Dynabook was for it’s day. Computers took up entire rooms. Networks were nonexistent (let alone wireless). Flat screens? Science fiction.
I had the distinct honor of meeting Dr. Kay several years ago. It was definitely one of the highlights of my career. I doubt many users have heard of him, but it is fair to say that he is one of the people that have changed the world as we know it.
When I grow up, I want to be Alan Kay.
If you are looking for the original concept for the iPad like device, read some early science fiction. Try Andre Norton aka Andrew North. She had a similar device in her SF novels of the 50s and 60s.
“The guy who invented the wheel, he was an idiot. The guy who invented the other three? He was a genius.” – Sid Caesar
I hope someone makes a port of Alan Kay’s Etoys for the iPad.
http://www.squeakland.org/
that would really be awesome for childrens education.
Heck, maybe I start working on it myself…
MW.: this. As in “this is the moment”
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Wait… I thought Blue Falcon was the the long-suffering hero. You mean it was the lead singer from Steppenwolf?
@Big Al
Just a fellow purist thanking you for the all-too-rare “SF”. Thank you! (Others take note. Please??!!)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703510304574626213985068436.html
“Last time there was this much excitement about a tablet, it had some commandments written on it.
A blizzard of speculation is building over Apple’s as-yet-unconfirmed release of a tablet computer. Among other things, the tablet is expected to offer e-books and TV programs. Apple has been trying to get TV networks to license their programming for a subscription service planned as part of a revamp of iTunes, presumably with the tablet in mind.
Assuming the talk is correct, it is hard to see the device proving immediately attractive to the mass market given a price expected somewhere between $500 and $900. And while CBS and Walt Disney are considering participation, other media companies are showing little interest in the subscription service, according to a Wall Street Journal report last week.
Of course, it is dangerous betting against Steve Jobs. Apple could cut the device’s price. The iPhone wasn’t a big seller when it first released at $499 and $599. Apple quickly lowered that to $399. But it was only when Apple renegotiated its deal with AT&T;, cutting the price for the cheapest model to $199, that sales really took off.
Eventually, enough entertainment companies could strike deals to make a tablet-driven subscription service attractive. Inclusion of other features, such as access to the App Store and a Web browser, would add to its appeal.
While it is good news that Apple is still innovating, investors shouldn’t expect any near-term bottom-line benefit from the tablet. The iPhone will remain the growth engine for the company for a while yet. Buying shares on enthusiasm about the tablet is putting the apple cart before the horse.
Write to Martin Peers at martin.peers@wsj.com“
@RicMac
Yep, me too.
Mac 512K, January 1985.
“While it is good news that Apple is still innovating, investors shouldn’t expect any near-term bottom-line benefit from the tablet.”
LOLOLOLOL
AAPL price on 12/30/09 (the day that article came out – $211.64
Today’s close – $261.09
Nice work, Martin!
Ah… That’s better.
Sent from my iPad
-c
@acid
I’ll go a step further than that. Jobs did not simply ask Kay for feedback on the iPhone. He asked if it was ‘good enough to criticize.’ Anyone can offer up a product for criticism. It takes a true perfectionist to question whether or not a product is good enough to warrant taking the time to criticize.