Looking at the graphical user interface for the Xerox Star (1982) and the Macintosh (1984) and comparing it to modern day computers and devices, we can see what aspects changed and which stayed pretty much the same. First, we need to understand that the Xerox Star was designed for office professionals which handled storage, transfer…
Life is tough but so are you!
Oregon Trail is a very educational game. It takes you on a Westward journey, follows the footsteps of many Americans in the 1840s. Life was tough back then and so does this game. The user interface is really simple but the game demands a great amount of attention and skills. The characters keep hurting themselves,…
High Stakes in Oregon Trail
I think Oregon Trail was so popular because of its innate ability to bring players into a world that has stakes, and out of the reality they live in. Being an adventure game, players want to do well. There is an instant connection they have to their player and in turn they will make decisions…
Surviving Elements of the Original Computer Interfaces
Many of the familiar commands and interface elements we encounter everyday in modern technology are not too far from what was introduced in the first graphical user interfaces. Even the terms like window and desktop have survived from the early interfaces and are used commonly in conversations today. Back in the 1980’s when Xerox Star…