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alentredyesterday at 9:10 AM3 repliesview on HN

Just recently I wanted to show my kids the 5.25" floppy disk - I had a small stack somewhere, but could not find it. I have finally found an 3½" floppy and have shown it to my kids (14 y.o. max). Evidently they never used such a thing, but I was genuinely surprised they didn't even know what it was. After a considerable amount of time one of my daughters hesitated but said something like: "Wasn't it like old USB stick thingy?". Given they have no USB stick either that's not bad, I guess. Then I proceeded to explain that a floppy disk is pictured on Save buttons - you just had to see their faces, it was a moment of the big revelation.


Replies

integrichoyesterday at 11:11 AM

Since they have never seen floppy disks before, why were you surprised that they did not recognize what they were?

vbezhenaryesterday at 1:17 PM

Given that computers play a huge role in our lives, shouldn't we taught children some kind of history of computers? It's not that big anyway.

blueflowyesterday at 12:31 PM

... have they seen Save buttons with the Floppy pictured on it, either?