How Humane’s AI Pin is similar to the iPod Shuffle’s aspirations to provide a future without screens

The release of Humane’s AI Pin last week ignited a fresh discussion over the unattainable goal of developing gadgets without screens. But back in 2009, Apple made the first attempt to enter the screen-less gadget market with the third-generation iPod Shuffle. Even though Apple no longer sells the iPod Shuffle, that one device—which allowed you to clip the tiny MP3 player to your shirt and operate the music player with an inventive voice-and-remote interface—was a forerunner of what may eventually be the user interface of the future.

At the time of the iPod Shuffle’s release, Apple’s stylish music player was already well-known throughout popular culture. The iPod was soaring in sales, and the iPhone wouldn’t come out for another three years. Just before Apple CEO Steve Jobs’s Macworld presentation at the Moscone Center ended on January 11, 2005, he made the initial announcement of the iPod Shuffle to a crowded house, referring to it as “One more thing.” This gadget had none of the features of the familiar iPod, like a click wheel, screen, or hard drive. Instead, it resembled a pack of Wrigley’s gum. It was possible to question whether the Shuffle was an iPod at all.

But according to Steve Jobs, the Shuffle was intended for inexpensive flash memory-based players, providing Apple with a significant chance for expansion as well as an entrance point into the Apple ecosystem. The price of the iPod Shuffle ranged from $99 to $149, based on the storage capacity. The Shuffle, like previous iPods in the range, connected to the iTunes software even though it lacked a display to indicate the music currently playing. The Shuffle’s unique feature, which gave rise to its name, was its capacity to play a selection of songs at random.

Jobs had different plans for the Shuffle than the many who believed it would be an isolated offering from Apple. Since the iPod Shuffle’s debut, Apple has continued to release updates for it; the most recent major release was in 2010. The iPod Shuffle of the second generation differed from that of the first. It was really wearable through a tiny clip and was substantially smaller. Apple had to make a number of design adjustments in order to lower the size and make it more compact, such as removing the USB connector and substituting a dock that synchronized data via the headphone port. The iPod Shuffle was available in a variety of vibrant colors.

However, Apple shocked everyone in 2009 when the third-generation iPod Shuffle was released. That model was the first iPod to ever have no buttons, in addition to being the smallest iPod Shuffle. It was half the size of its predecessor, measuring 1.8 inches tall and 0.3 inches thin, but it had greater storage. Like previous iPod Shuffles, the $79 third-generation model had no display and a high-end aluminum design. However, it did away with physical controls in favor of the in-line controls of the included pair of earphones, with the exception of a tiny slider that allowed you to choose between playing songs in order, shuffle, and turning it off.

The iPod’s user interface was its main focus from the start. A click wheel provided a straightforward and uncomplicated method of controlling the music on the first iPod. Ultimately, the click wheel made it possible for consumers to operate the iPod without having to glance at the screen. The click wheel was a shift from the way that devices were controlled both then and, to some extent, currently. While modern gadgets may have better interfaces and employ more advanced touch displays, using them still requires your whole attention.

Similar to the first iPod, however, the third-generation iPod Shuffle was the complete opposite—a ground-breaking gadget for which Apple sadly received little recognition. The third-generation iPod Shuffle had a new remote control that Apple integrated into the headphone wire, along with a brand-new text-to-speech technology that assisted users in navigating their music. In essence, Apple transferred the controls from the iPod to the headphones’ remote control. Using the iPod Shuffle was a new experience because it was a non-conventional method of interacting with iPods. You may stop the music by pressing it once, go to the next track by pressing it twice, go to the final track by pressing it three times, hear the artist and song title by pressing it once, fast-forward by pressing it twice, and fast-reverse by pressing it three times. Although it may sound terrifying to have all the controls on your headphones, the UI was really incredibly user-friendly.

However, the third-generation iPod Shuffle’s greatest feature was its ability to operate and interact with the music player while being totally undetectable. Along with that model, Apple launched VoiceOver, which enabled the iPod to read information about what was playing, including the artist and title of the song that was now playing. Users could also select from a variety of playlists thanks to this feature. To activate the Shuffle, just press and hold the center button on the remote to start the reading of your playlist titles. Once you hear the playlist you wish to choose, release the button.

VoiceOver not only added intrigue to the iPod Shuffle, but it also somewhat offset the device’s absence of a display for playback control. That being said, Apple recognized that VoiceOver couldn’t fully replace the capabilities of a display. The reception to the third-generation Shuffle was ambivalent, and for good cause. The Shuffle was a forward-thinking gadget, but it lacked some features and functions. Finding a certain song was very hard, and the device wasn’t made to arrange all the songs alphabetically; also, the Shuffle didn’t comprehend the idea of albums.

Although the future of screen-free devices has been developed for years, there are a lot of limitations, making it difficult to implement. Similar to what Apple accomplished with the third-generation iPod Shuffle, Humane’s AI Pin is moving in the same direction. History teaches us that giving up buttons and displays on electronics is still difficult.