Background
Inside the Personal Computer was created during the rise of personal computing in the late 20th century.
As computers became more accessible, there was a growing need to understand how they worked.
The book reflects this by revealing internal systems and making complex technology more visible and understandable.
Rresearch
Steven Levy Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution（1984）
https://www.dvara.net/hk/LevyStevenHackers1&2.pdf
- “All information should be free”
- Understanding it by "disassembling the system"
- Anti-authoritarian / Decentralized
The Design of Everyday Things
https://ia902800.us.archive.org/3/items/thedesignofeverydaythingsbydonnorman/
The%20Design%20of%20Everyday%20Things%20by%20Don%20Norman.pdf
- Good design should make the structure and function "visible," thereby helping users understand how the system works.
- An object's shape tells you "how to use it".
Sketch (Understanding the book）
1.FormThis book is like a hybrid object, a computer, and can also be described as a sculpture. It presents different effects when left still and when interacted with by flipping through the pages.
This version of 1984 uses a three-dimensional book form with pop-up and layered structures.These elements introduce a sense of depth and require actual reader interaction, breaking away from the traditional linear narrative model. The hierarchical interaction also better aligns with the theme of hidden information systems within computers.
2.Materials The cover is made of cardboard, forming a sturdy and sealed structure. The inner pages use smooth, thick paper, and all interactive elements are made of precisely cut cardboard, with standardized details throughout.
3.colour
The main colors are blue and gray with red accents. The explanatory illustrations in the book are outlined in blue and white.
The book uses colour as a visual coding system to distinguish different components such as the CPU, keyboard, and disk drive. Rather than decoration, colour helps organise complex information and supports interaction, making the computer’s internal structure easier to understand.
4.Style
3D combined with 2D
The visual style is highly technical and illustrative, combining illustrations with instructional design. The graphics are clear, concise, and practical, focusing on explaining the working principles of various computer components.
5.contents
- Explains the internal components and operation of a computer, such as the central processing unit (CPU), memory, input devices, and data storage, culminating in a printer.
- Instead of presenting information in plain text, it breaks down these complex systems into visual and interactive elements.
- The explanation of the 3D mechanism is provided on the lower page using simple illustrations and analogies.
Focus Point
Conveying information
The three-dimensional structures function more like a shell. You can follow the red instructions to open and interact with them, but inside, there is often no additional information. The truly useful information is not in the three-dimensional parts — it exists in the flat, two-dimensional elements.
the relationship between three-dimensional and two-dimensional elements in this book is very clear: the 3D structures create space and experience, but understanding still depends on flat structures — such as diagrams, arrows, labels, and the explanatory text along the page margins.
Target audience
While the content isn't highly academic or specialized computer knowledge, the analogies and explanations still allow for a clear understanding of the core concepts.
The question is: how can we make computers more accessible to a wider audience?