- The TV remote control is replaced by branded discs and one simple action
- Toddlers can select programs without reading icons, tapping screens, or scrolling tiles
- Diskettes limit design choices and reduce accidental content switching
Floppy disks were once a routine part of home computers, used to load software, store documents and move data between machines.
They disappeared from daily use like optical discs, and later SSD-based storage replaced them for local file transfer, while cloud storage reduced the need for physical media altogether.
Developer Mads Chr. Olesen has turned floppy disks into a tangible selection system that allows his toddler to select TV shows by inserting a disk into a drive.
Making the selection of show a physical act
Olesen believes that “floppies are the best storage medium ever invented,” and applies that belief to a kid-friendly television control system.
The system, called FloppyDiskCast, describes the overall setup, although its function differs from traditional casting hardware.
It uses outdated hardware to replace touchscreens and multi-button remote controls, and the disc acts as a physical selector instead of a storage device.
The TV control setup assigns each disk to a specific program, eliminating the need for menus or scrolling interfaces.
Each disc has a visual label that makes it clear which program is playing once inserted, and when a child places a disc in the drive, that action alone determines what appears on the screen.
This reduces interaction to a single, repeatable movement that does not rely on reading or symbolic navigation.
The FloppyDiskCast system creates the impression that the show is on the disc itself, even though playback is through a connected streaming device instead of a local hard drive.
This illusion reflects how removable media once worked, where inserting an object directly produced visible results.
The system’s structure avoids the layered complexity found in many smart TV setups, and Olesen’s approach reflects concern about how current smart TV controls work for very young users.
Standard remotes and touch-based controls often combine ads, recommendations, and settings within the same interface.
For a young child, this can create confusion rather than choice. The floppy-based system limits options by design, as only available disks can be selected.
This restriction encourages focused viewing and prevents accidental navigation to unrelated content.
Comments surrounding the project include phrases such as “floppies are great”, although the practical emphasis remains on interaction design rather than nostalgia.
Although this project shows how limited physical interfaces can reduce cognitive load, it does not address scalability beyond a limited number of shows.
This is unlikely to be a problem as experts recommend limiting screen time to one hour per day for children aged 2 to 5.
Children between 18 months and 2 years are advised to have even less exposure, while babies under 18 months are generally advised to avoid screen time altogether, except for video chats.
Via Tom’s hardware
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