Via Kottke, Super ambitious project (eight contemplated sections, 48 chapters) about how computers work (under the title “Making Software”), with the 3000 word first chapter now online, and all about screens.
I understand the irony of starting this book about software, talking about hardware. But there isn’t a more under appreciated technology in modern computing than digital displays. In fact, modern computing just isn’t possible without them. If we developed the transistor before the CRT, I’m not sure you would even be reading this right now.
The reason it’s so under appreciated is because most people have no idea how a screen works. Any time you see a pixel light up, you are witnessing actual witchcraft before your eyes - light bending through electric crystals just so you can read a tweet in bed.
Really well done; love the sound effects when clicking on the sidebar navigation thing-a-ma-bob. (Reminded me of all the sounds from the Mac that Marcin Wichary reminded me of thanks to his equally glorious Frame of preference.)
(Pro tip: don’t read tweets in bed.)