lol232 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Bill Moggridge, a British-born industrial designer and educator who set the standard for laptop design three decades ago when he developed a clamshell case with a hinged lid that folded over the keyboard, died of cancer Saturday in San Francisco. He was 69. His death was announced by the Smithsonian Institution's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, which he had directed since 2010. In the late 1970s, when Moggridge left his native London to launch a Silicon Valley design firm, portable computers were more theory than reality. The smallest computer was the size of a sewing machine and about as easy to carry. In 1979 a Silicon Valley entrepreneur named John Ellenby invited Moggridge to help him develop a truly portable computer. The result was the GRiD Compass, a machine that, at eight pounds, was much lighter than desktop models. Its most ingenious feature was its hinged construction, which allowed the computer to be folded up inside a briefcase. The price tag exceeded $8,000, beyond the reach of the average consumer. But it was adopted by government agencies such as NASA, which in 1983 put the Compass on the first of many space shuttle missions. Moggridge's influence extended beyond the aesthetics of laptops. He founded a field he called interaction design, which emphasizes the centrality of human experience in developing computer software and hardware. "I don't think Bill ever found a technology he was not fascinated with, but it was not the fascination of a techie," Tim Brown, president and chief executive of IDEO, the Palo Alto-based international innovation and design firm co-founded in 1991 by Moggridge, said Monday. "He approached every technology with a lovely naivete.… He was never interested in technology for technology's sake but only in what it could do to help people have more interesting lives." Moggridge's views about the user experience began to form when he took home a prototype of the Compass laptop in 1981. "For the first five minutes I was still proud of all the work I had been doing for a year and a half, thinking how valuable it was that I had created the physical form, with a nice looking display that folded over the keyboard," he told Smithsonian magazine last year. His delight faded once he discovered how unfriendly the software was. The machine ran on a clunky DOS-based operating system that required the user to enter a series of incomprehensible commands to execute the simplest task. "That's when I realized the significance of human-computer interaction," he said. He decided that designers needed to change their focus to think about shaping not only a physical object but people's experiences or interactions with it, the theme of his 2007 book "Designing Interactions." Moggridge "had the intuition that this software stuff was what people were going to care about," said David Kelley, founder of Stanford University's Institute of Design. "He thought designers should be involved in any human-machine interface. He pioneered that idea and it changed the profession." The son of an artist and a civil servant, Moggridge was born in London on June 25, 1943, and studied industrial design at the Central School of Art and Design. He established his own firm in London in 1969 and became a successful designer of toasters, refrigerators and other appliances. In 1979, recognizing that high-tech design was the new wave, he moved to California and set up an office in Palo Alto. In 1991 he joined Kelley and British designer Mike Nuttall in launching IDEO, which has created designs for companies such as Procter & Gamble, Apple and Microsoft. Moggridge, who taught design at Stanford and the Royal College of Art in London, became director of Cooper-Hewitt in 2010 when it was in the midst of a major capital improvement program. Richard Kurin, the Smithsonian's under secretary for history, art and culture, said in a statement that Moggridge increased attendance and digital access to collections, oversaw the renovation of the museum's two townhouses and developed its new National Design Library. His survivors include his wife of 47 years, Karin, and sons Alex and Erik. Despite his immersion in the digital world, Moggridge was a people magnet whose love for what Brown called "the humorous side of humanity" was evident in his extensive collection of Japanese plastic food. Brown said Moggridge was fascinated that anyone would work so hard to make a fake object look so real. "I've always been interested in trying to understand people," Moggridge once said in a lecture. "I think that's part of design." Copied from here. R.I.P, I am read that on my laptop in fact, I can't thank him enough for inventing it, It's easily portable, I can transport it from room to room in 1 minute, some kids on Laptop's can be upgraded too. Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coin-god Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adriaan Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 It's no surprise that stories of famous people from the 20th century dying will happen in greater frequency from here on out. It's just a numbers thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent Traffic Cop Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years I can't believe this hasn't been broadcast more, considering that the laptop is a huge part of daily life for many people. Tbh it should be on the same level as when Steve Jobs died. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coin-god Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years Not sure what the f*ck that has to do with anything. Totally uncalled for, you piece of sh*t. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain VXR Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 How the f*ck did we go from laptops to the Falklands and sweeping generalisations of Argentinians? Never heard of the guy, however RIP to him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adriaan Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years Why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WastedEngland Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 some kids on Laptop's can be upgraded too. Is this offer running in PCworld? OT: R.I.P to him, he sounds like one of those unsung innovators who deserved more recognition than he got, seems he may have been responsible for more than just the folding design of laptops too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
universetwisters Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 aw man, that sucks he changed the world of computers, though. He left a good mark on computer history Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The__Phoenix Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 R.I.P to him,posted from my laptop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunkyman Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years Not sure what the f*ck that has to do with anything. Totally uncalled for, you piece of sh*t. FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT! OT: As a laptop user, it's sad to see him pass. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Typhus Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Losing a great mind is always painful. But I would hope that he died content in the knowledge that his work made people happy. Indeed, the ability to shrink technology is a major benchmark. Whereas once computers were consigned to entire rooms, now we can carry them to and fro without ever thinking anything of it. I like remembering that behind every comfort we enjoy, there lies a singular visionary behind it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunk Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years LOL, what in the world?! But yes, R.I.P. Bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
na89340qv0n34b09q340 Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 edit: That was uncalled for. RIP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Leone Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years I can't believe this hasn't been broadcast more, considering that the laptop is a huge part of daily life for many people. Tbh it should be on the same level as when Steve Jobs died. RIP Whoa, WTF? Go fap or do Yoga, just chill out. Oh, and RIP to an incredible guy! RIP Bill! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A loaded rifle Posted September 11, 2012 Share Posted September 11, 2012 In all seriousness, may he rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Finn 7 five 11 Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years Not sure what the f*ck that has to do with anything. Totally uncalled for, you piece of sh*t. Well he's got a point, you dismissed death and he pointed out how that's a bit hypocritical. Plus it was hilarious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coin-god Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years Not sure what the f*ck that has to do with anything. Totally uncalled for, you piece of sh*t. Well he's got a point, you dismissed death and he pointed out how that's a bit hypocritical. Plus it was hilarious. Dismiss? I was just pointing out that people dieing in 2012 is as sh*tty as any other year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Leone Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Blah blah blah, stop bickering! It's about this mans death, screw your personal animosity, this is a little disrespectful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kent Traffic Cop Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 Damn, 2012 is a sh*tty year, we are having a huge loss this year. People die everyday. So did Argentinian soldiers when we kicked you the f*ck out of the Falklands, but that hasn't stopped you lot banging on about it for the past 30 years Not sure what the f*ck that has to do with anything. Totally uncalled for, you piece of sh*t. Well he's got a point, you dismissed death and he pointed out how that's a bit hypocritical. Plus it was hilarious. Thank you - you have restored my faith that at least some people here are intelligent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t0grul Posted September 12, 2012 Share Posted September 12, 2012 69 is the best age to die. Great timing. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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