Design & Use

The design of tech shapes and influences our use, and vice versa.

The design of technology shapes and influences our use, and vice versa. What were phones before they became interchangeable rectangles of black mirrored glass?

Photo: Shutterstock Illustration: TTWW

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Return of the dumbphone

Luddite teens hold their vintage flip phones in a circle.

The "dumbphone" or feature phone is a simpler form of mobile phone, and it's becoming popular again. A return to early...

iPhone released

Apple’s first iPhone ad features a supercut from TV shows and movies saying, “Hello,” like Dustin Hoffman, Marilyn Monroe, and Will Ferrell. “Hello” first ran on February 25, 2007, during the Oscars.

The release of the iPhone in 2007 revolutionized the smartphone setting a new standard and changing how we interact with...

BlackBerry 5810 released

Image of a BlackBerry 5810 with the application screen options including calendars, email, and phone calls.

RIM unveiled the BlackBerry 5810 as its first smartphone. It was marketed as a “breakthrough in wireless convergence that...

Snake

GIF animation of a Nokia phone displaying the Snake gameplay.

Programmed in 1997 by Taneli Armanto of Nokia and introduced as a pre-loaded game on the Nokia 6110. The player must keep...

“Making apps for my phone, engaging with the jailbreaking community.”

– Anonymous, San Francisco, CA

First SMS sent

Image of the first SMS both in code and on an historic screen.

The first SMS text message in history is sent: Neil Papworth, a 22-year-old engineer, uses a personal computer to send the...

Trans engineer democratizes chip design

Lynn Conway holding a copy of her VLSI publication.

Fired from IBM after disclosing her gender transition, Lynn Conway went on to help democratize chip design at Xerox Palo...

Find the dumbphone for you.

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Luddite teens hold their vintage flip phones in a circle.

Looking to ditch your smartphone? Jose Briones helps you find the right feature phone for your lifestyle.

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Culture & Behaviors

From emojis to memes, we connect and make meaning with tech.

Bodies & Minds

Pocket computers are intimate tech.

Movements & Resistance

Tech is both a tool and a target for collective action.

Risk & Safety

Tech can simultaneously expose and protect our vulnerabilities.

Economy & Labor

Tech disrupts economies and changes the nature of work.

Connection & Access

Connectivity is never a given.

Materials & Waste

Human transformation of metals and sand has environmental impacts.

Decades

Explore the chronological timeline of a people's history of tech.

People's Stories

Explore the living artifact of your stories and experiences.

Resources

Take action and imagine better tech futures.

Tell Your Story

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  • Natalya Dell
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  • Sherri Johnson
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  • Spencer
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  • Theresa Richardson
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  • Whitney
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  • Xiaowei Wang
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  • AB
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  • Andrew Gurza
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  • Antonio
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  • B Kelley
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  • Becky Russell
  • *
  • Ben
  • *
  • Bettina Dalton
  • *
  • Caitlin Begg
  • *
  • Carrie
  • *
  • Catherine Ingram
  • *
  • Chelsey Petty-Dale
  • *
  • Cody Brooks
  • *
  • Willow Idlewild
  • *
  • Confidence Osein
  • *
  • Eli Pariser
  • *
  • Dana
  • *
  • Domsk
  • *
  • Eli Boahen
  • *
  • Emily Best
  • *
  • Erica
  • *
  • Erik Matthies
  • *
  • Grace
  • *
  • Ina
  • *
  • Jasmine Sun
  • *
  • Jeffrey Abramson
  • *
  • Jim Remsik
  • *
  • Coraline Ada Ehmke
  • *
  • Kaitlin
  • *
  • Kane
  • *
  • Kris Boustedt
  • *
  • Kristen
  • *
  • Laura Heery
  • *
  • Laura Kalbag
  • *
  • Ligaya
  • *
  • Lorna Craig
  • *
  • Maira Elahi
  • *
  • Meghan
  • *
  • Nick
  • *
  • Owen
  • *
  • Pablo
  • *
  • Patrick McDermott
  • *
  • Reuben Johnson
  • *
  • Rosita
  • *
  • Sam
  • *
  • Sara M. Watson
  • *
  • Sarp
  • *
  • SaVance Ford
  • *
  • Natalya Dell
  • *
  • Sherri Johnson
  • *
  • Spencer
  • *
  • Theresa Richardson
  • *
  • Whitney
  • *
  • Xiaowei Wang
  • *
  • AB
  • *
  • Andrew Gurza
  • *
  • Antonio
  • *
  • B Kelley
  • *
  • Becky Russell
  • *
  • Ben
  • *
  • Bettina Dalton
  • *
  • Caitlin Begg
  • *
  • Carrie
  • *
  • Catherine Ingram
  • *
  • Chelsey Petty-Dale
  • *
  • Cody Brooks
  • *
  • Willow Idlewild
  • *
  • Confidence Osein
  • *
  • Eli Pariser
  • *
  • Dana
  • *
  • Domsk
  • *
  • Eli Boahen
  • *
  • Emily Best
  • *
  • Erica
  • *
  • Erik Matthies
  • *
  • Grace
  • *
  • Ina
  • *
  • Jasmine Sun
  • *
  • Jeffrey Abramson
  • *
  • Jim Remsik
  • *
  • Coraline Ada Ehmke
  • *
  • Kaitlin
  • *
  • Kane
  • *
  • Kris Boustedt
  • *
  • Kristen
  • *
  • Laura Heery
  • *
  • Laura Kalbag
  • *
  • Ligaya
  • *
  • Lorna Craig
  • *
  • Maira Elahi
  • *
  • Meghan
  • *
  • Nick
  • *
  • Owen
  • *
  • Pablo
  • *
  • Patrick McDermott
  • *
  • Reuben Johnson
  • *
  • Rosita
  • *
  • Sam
  • *
  • Sara M. Watson
  • *
  • Sarp
  • *
  • SaVance Ford
  • *
  • Natalya Dell
  • *
  • Sherri Johnson
  • *
  • Spencer
  • *
  • Theresa Richardson
  • *
  • Whitney
  • *
  • Xiaowei Wang
  • *
  • AB
  • *
  • Andrew Gurza
  • *
  • Antonio
  • *
  • B Kelley
  • *
  • Becky Russell
  • *
  • Ben
  • *
  • Bettina Dalton
  • *
  • Caitlin Begg
  • *
  • Carrie
  • *
  • Catherine Ingram
  • *
  • Chelsey Petty-Dale
  • *
  • Cody Brooks
  • *
  • Willow Idlewild
  • *
  • Confidence Osein
  • *
  • Eli Pariser
  • *
  • Dana
  • *
  • Domsk
  • *
  • Eli Boahen
  • *
  • Emily Best
  • *
  • Erica
  • *
  • Erik Matthies
  • *
  • Grace
  • *
  • Ina
  • *
  • Jasmine Sun
  • *
  • Jeffrey Abramson
  • *
  • Jim Remsik
  • *
  • Coraline Ada Ehmke
  • *
  • Kaitlin
  • *
  • Kane
  • *
  • Kris Boustedt
  • *
  • Kristen
  • *
  • Laura Heery
  • *
  • Laura Kalbag
  • *
  • Ligaya
  • *
  • Lorna Craig
  • *
  • Maira Elahi
  • *
  • Meghan
  • *
  • Nick
  • *
  • Owen
  • *
  • Pablo
  • *
  • Patrick McDermott
  • *
  • Reuben Johnson
  • *
  • Rosita
  • *
  • Sam
  • *
  • Sara M. Watson
  • *
  • Sarp
  • *
  • SaVance Ford
  • *
  • Natalya Dell
  • *
  • Sherri Johnson
  • *
  • Spencer
  • *
  • Theresa Richardson
  • *
  • Whitney
  • *
  • Xiaowei Wang
  • *