Sci-fi Interfaces

scifiinterfaces.com · Personal blog · on HN since 2012

Sci-fi Interfaces analyzes user interface design in science fiction films and shows, from Hackers to Her and Jurassic Park.

What HN saysHN commenters recommend it as a source for deep analysis of sci-fi UIs, alongside other fantasy interface collections.
27HN people shared it
17linked it in comments
13stories submitted
211story points
9 months agolast shared
2012people per year2026

Most-shared posts

  1. 1
    Sci-fi Interfaces
    12 people · 167 points · first shared 2012 · 7 comments on HN
  2. 2
    Sci-Fi Interfaces: Hackers (1995)
    2 people · 2 points · first shared 2023 · discussion on HN
  3. 3
    'Her' Interface Components
    2 people · 2 points · first shared 2019 · discussion on HN
  4. 4
    The secret of the tera-keyboard (2013)
    2 people · 1 points · first shared 2024 · 1 comments on HN
  5. 5
    UX of Speculative Brain-Computer Inputs
    1 people · 32 points · first shared 2020 · discussion on HN
  6. 6
    Bitching about Transparent Screens
    1 people · 3 points · first shared 2018 · discussion on HN
  7. 7
    The Design of Evil (2019)
    1 people · 2 points · first shared 2024 · discussion on HN
  8. 8
    SciFi Interfaces – Example from Black Mirror
    1 people · 2 points · first shared 2019 · 1 comments on HN
  9. 9
    Idiocracy tv
    1 people · first shared 2021
  10. 10
    The memory doubler
    1 people · first shared 2018
  11. 11
    The wearble combadge
    1 people · first shared 2019
  12. 12
    Ghost in the shell 1995
    1 people · first shared 2018
  13. 13
    St gods intake
    1 people · first shared 2023
  14. 14
    Iron man hud a breakdown
    1 people · first shared 2019
  15. 15
    Thanatorium the patients experience
    1 people · first shared 2023

What HN people wrote when they linked it

sxp · 2022-04-21
https://old.reddit.com/r/FUI/top/?sort=top&t=all is another favorite of mine. If you want an excessively deep analysis of sci-fi UIs, I suggest https://scifiinterfaces.com/ On a related note, does anyone have good recommendations for real-world "power UIs"? I.e, computer user interfaces that have a steep learning curve but are extremely powerful once mastered. E.g, vi/emacs or one line bash scripts + *nix CLI programs. AutoCAD/Blender and other 3D modeling tools also have good UIs once you go through the pain of mastering them and learn how to use them with one hand on a keyboard and one hand on a mouse.
moralestapia · 2021-12-13
NGE has always been a favorite of me because of the UIs that are represented throughout the series. The new(ish?) movies are just gorgeous, I highly suggest you give them a try if you haven't already. If you like this, you may as well enjoy: https://scifiinterfaces.com/
voytec · 2024-09-11
Sci-fi Interfaces is a good source of similar content https://scifiinterfaces.com/
amasad · 2016-06-26
Reminds me of a similarly awesome blog deconstructing user interfaces in scifi: http://www.scifiinterfaces.com/
pavel_lishin · 2016-06-03
If you like this, you might also enjoy the SciFi Interfaces blog, which analyzes actual interfaces used in SciFi films and TV shows, and rates them based on usability, likelyhood, etc: http://www.scifiinterfaces.com/
derefr · 2014-02-14
Another good blog on a similar topic: http://www.scifiinterfaces.com/
lloeki · 2024-12-01
An analysis of the layout and usage of the so-called tera-keyboard: https://scifiinterfaces.com/2013/07/24/the-secret-of-the-tera-keyboard… Worth a read, notably the estimated achieved speed in comparison with a human brain. I won't spoil you, but it allowing chords has... consequences. The article also asks how a human brain could process such interaction so fast; well in GITS canon cybernetised brains are augmented/enhanced beyond normal human abilities. The article also raises the question of why this and not a direct connection. I would yet again argue the possible security implications, notably in the context of the Puppet Master being around. But it could also be a gracefully degrading interface, and a less cybernetised person may still be able to operate it with normal hands, or even a non cybenetised one, albeit of course at a massively reduced speed. IOW ed is the standard text editor / it's a Unix system, I know this. After all, what better interface than text via stdin/out to scale from normal hands/eyeballs to max line rate? EDIT: the first comment actually raises both interop and security concerns!
nickthegreek · 2026-02-06
Nice little blog post that looks at these interfaces in the movie: https://scifiinterfaces.com/2023/12/11/hackers/
SigmundA · 2023-11-14
Was very interested to see what Amazon could do with healthcare, looking at the page the first thing that popped in my head: https://scifiinterfaces.com/2018/10/12/st-gods-intake/
EvanAnderson · 2021-06-21
I'd forgotten that TV UI from Idiocracy. Now that I see it it certainly does seem a bit prescient: https://scifiinterfaces.com/idiocracy-tv/ (Then again, sadly, a lot of that movie seems prescient...)
MrEldritch · 2018-08-03
Even more relevant - the Sci-Fi Interfaces blog, which analyzes various science-fictional interfaces in movies from an actual UI/UX standpoint. https://scifiinterfaces.com/category/ghost-in-the-shell-1995/
sargstuff · 2024-07-01
Think the only thing historical science fiction/Blade Runner photo inspect scene[0] didn't forsee was voically having AI assist/analyze photo to summerize list of items/objects avaliable to zoom/view. (vs. pan/zoom around). Although altavista glasses / hand gestures[3] would have been a future concept at the time, too. ---- [0] : https://scifiinterfaces.com/2020/04/29/deckards-photo-inspector/ [1] 'mirror reality' image / TERI[2] : https://www.hackster.io/news/blade-runner-s-image-enhancement-tool-nea… [2] : TERI, almost IRL blade runner move image enhancement tool : https://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=40844595 / https://github.com/iscilab2020/TERI-3DNLOS/tree/TERI [3] : Gest : https://news.ycombinator.com/edit?id=40844704

Keyboard shortcuts

/Search
j kNext / previous blog
EnterOpen selected blog
vVisit the blog site
fFollow / unfollow
lSwitch grid / list view
dSwitch dark mode
g hHome
g pTop posts
g tTopics
g fFollowing
g lLiked
g yHistory
g qFAQ
EscBack / close