Same reason fax is still a thing you need if you want to do anything official or business related, why PC-98 was a thing, why their smartphones are weird, why they invented the term Galapagos syndrome, or why they use laptops that still have compact disk drives and look like this:
Japan innovates early. They innovate fast and enthusiastically. And then they sort of… stop.
Technology in Japan looks futuristic for a while, then the rest of the world catches up, but, since Japan has already been there for a decade and made different decisions their technology looks… odd, and then the world carries on, while Japan seems stuck in some kind of retrofuturistic limbo.
Of course this is happening with different innovations at different times and paces, so from an outside perspective Japan is always a weird combination of futuristic, weird old alternate future, and just plain weird.
When it comes to web design, they’re stuck in their version of the Geocities / dot-com boom era.
Yea, visiting Japan does feel like they are stuck in a retro vision of the future where everything was going to be driven by buttons. There are buttons everywhere, including at your table in a restaurant and on every toilet too. The toilets even have heated seats, bidets, and play music, all driven by buttons. They also have vending machines everywhere, which are covered in buttons. Ordering ramen at a restaurant? Make sure you tap all the buttons at the machine in the front to make your order.
They still haven’t quite adopted the touch screen fully.
Same reason fax is still a thing you need if you want to do anything official or business related, why PC-98 was a thing, why their smartphones are weird, why they invented the term Galapagos syndrome, or why they use laptops that still have compact disk drives and look like this:
Japan innovates early. They innovate fast and enthusiastically. And then they sort of… stop.
Technology in Japan looks futuristic for a while, then the rest of the world catches up, but, since Japan has already been there for a decade and made different decisions their technology looks… odd, and then the world carries on, while Japan seems stuck in some kind of retrofuturistic limbo.
Of course this is happening with different innovations at different times and paces, so from an outside perspective Japan is always a weird combination of futuristic, weird old alternate future, and just plain weird.
When it comes to web design, they’re stuck in their version of the Geocities / dot-com boom era.
Yea, visiting Japan does feel like they are stuck in a retro vision of the future where everything was going to be driven by buttons. There are buttons everywhere, including at your table in a restaurant and on every toilet too. The toilets even have heated seats, bidets, and play music, all driven by buttons. They also have vending machines everywhere, which are covered in buttons. Ordering ramen at a restaurant? Make sure you tap all the buttons at the machine in the front to make your order.
They still haven’t quite adopted the touch screen fully.
Because touch screens aren’t always ideal. Japan is just one generation ahead again
Man, I wish my toilet would play the loudest harsh noise music possible so don’t hafta hear my self taking a shit
Pretty sure that’s why they have it. It’s for courtesy so you don’t hear bathroom noises.
Absolutely based. Fuck touchscreens; bring back physical controls.
Good. Touch screens are evil.