After being called over and over as the tech support family member over the years, I decided the do something to help them to identify the ports without the need to rotate the laptops to see the ports (and because of the phone calls), because it is the most common problem my family calls for.
Itchyarmpit111 on
Im 36 and would love those on my laptop!
neroe5 on
Nice only thing I find to be missing is to somehow know wich way to turn the usb-a
Magic_Neil on
That’s pretty awesome OP, but consider changing the symbols to something they’ll understand.. if the issue is with elderly folks, they won’t know what the USB symbol vs network symbol.
I really like the USB-A vs C sticker shape!
Greenman8907 on
Did you explain the USB paradox/superposition?
SonnyvonShark on
It’s nice of you, but I fear, with my past tech support calls, this would still stump a good few.
AdmirableClue4329 on
May want a legend to go with that.
SameGreen271 on
I’m not old and I could do with them!
PathOfJan on
So what did you design exactly?
rodrigostucker on
Should be an acessibility standart for the industry. Great idea!
happy-cig on
I feel like words would be better than symbols, cuz these look french to my parents.
CleverGirlRawr on
I am an elder and could use more explanation because the symbols don’t mean anything to me.
undermytinyhat on
Honestly, with how some companies have their own layouts of where the ports are placed, I would love this as an industry standard of marking where they are. Even if it’s a removable sticker strip down the side of the keyboard.
I keep thinking my charger is further up while it’s more in the middle on my newer laptop ^^;
shocktopper1 on
Damn you dude, I know I’m almost 40 but no elder lol. I just plug it in and pray that it fits the first time but I do need it!
RevenantExiled on
The elder? 😭 I’m 30, 5K hours of use on current laptop and I can’t find my ports sometimes
marcellusmartel on
Dude, forget just the outers. You’d help me with those stickers
Fluid_Swordfish2737 on
This is how they should come from the factory
dnhs47 on
Sell sticker packs, I’d buy one – avoid having to turn my notebook on its side to figure out where the port is.
FayePixie on
Ex-speech therapist here – elderly people (especially with dementia, and just those old enough to have forgetfulness as a natural result of aging) need photos that are less “opaque” as it is referred to an AAC. “Opaque” means that the visual representations have no/little connection to their meaning, making it difficult to guess without prior exposure to the symbol, because it is still a symbol and not a literal picture. If possible, I would take photos of each type of cable that goes in the corresponding port (the end bit) and turn those into stickers. Then it would be “transparent” which is what is called “high iconicity” (easy-to-guess icons).
This is SUCH a cool idea, but this might be something to look into (not a lot of people would know, this is something I learned while learning about (and working with) Augmentative Alternative Communication as it is one of the core tenets to consider when designing something to help communicate how “easily guessable” something is.
This is such a sweet idea and I love the formatting. This is a wonderful idea for the general populace though, and can remain unchanged for them!
Seigmoraig on
I mean, if they don’t understand that[ shaped connectors go into similarly shaped holes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUbIkNUFs-4) then how are they going to understand what those symbols mean
Ok-disaster2022 on
No offence why not just name them Internet, USBC USB power? If it’s to help elders? Heck grew up with these and don’t understand why use obscure symbols
kinsiz_1 on
nice, small things, but big personal impact
ScratchLatch on
They won’t know what the sticker symbols mean.
Chiliin on
Instructions unclear, gave all my life savings to the people calling me saying they are IRS and I will be arrested unless I buy google gift cards.
Bellasophiexoxo on
Amazing idea but if I were to do this for the elders in my family, they’d look at the symbols like they were Egyptian hieroglyphs. I think it’s better to just leave a short written note at each port
RoadSmash on
Not sure those confusing symbols are going to help an elderly person
otusc on
Elders don’t understand those symbols. You them to say “charge here” and “printer”
Wundawuzi on
For the ‘old’ usb one, an indication which side is up or down would be great. Not the usual “Logo side up” thing but a simple “The open half down” or something would be cool.
But no idea how to put that information into a small icon.
Mac8503 on
This is cool!!! How much?
Mitoria on
Appreciate but I think it needs to be words— my mom would not know “tree” from “weird fork“ from “lightning plug”.
Clark_Kent-Kal_EL on
I feel like that 3 decades too late but still useful to me.
BoostSpools on
That’s actually handy. Lots of times I forget which port is where and you know everyone does the awkward tilt to left and right, haha
20milliondollarapi on
Having the Ethernet sticker actually look like the port would be better. The usb ones are pretty fine. Ultimately the goal would be “this shape plugs in here.”
westsidedreamin on
Basically anyone who is not Millennial, or Younger Gen X needs these in my professional opinion (IT guy here)
n8udd on
If you’re going to the trouble of printing stickers… why not just have them say “USB”, “Power”, “USB-C”
Character_Ad_1084 on
Written labels would be better but great idea!
habris on
This would work only if the cables have the same stickers
TheVoicesOfBrian on
This is why I love my USB hub.
Either-Pollution-622 on
Can this just be default on all laptops
IDownVoteCanaduh on
Yeah, that is not helping them.
staatsclaas on
This is just a different kind of confusing featuring hieroglyphics.
IllRadish8765 on
There is no way any old person will know what they are for.
r2k-in-the-vortex on
You might as well use egyptian hieroglyphs for all it will help the elders. Better color code it, green tagged cable goes in green tagged hole. At least there is some chance it might be useful.
andy_nony_mouse on
I painted colored dots on the ports and painted the cable tips matching colors for my mom. She really appreciated that.
bevaquas_mojo on
Which one is the “any” key sticker?
zw9491 on
“I keep pressing the org chart button but I don’t see the org chart”
47 Comments
[deleted]
After being called over and over as the tech support family member over the years, I decided the do something to help them to identify the ports without the need to rotate the laptops to see the ports (and because of the phone calls), because it is the most common problem my family calls for.
Im 36 and would love those on my laptop!
Nice only thing I find to be missing is to somehow know wich way to turn the usb-a
That’s pretty awesome OP, but consider changing the symbols to something they’ll understand.. if the issue is with elderly folks, they won’t know what the USB symbol vs network symbol.
I really like the USB-A vs C sticker shape!
Did you explain the USB paradox/superposition?
It’s nice of you, but I fear, with my past tech support calls, this would still stump a good few.
May want a legend to go with that.
I’m not old and I could do with them!
So what did you design exactly?
Should be an acessibility standart for the industry. Great idea!
I feel like words would be better than symbols, cuz these look french to my parents.
I am an elder and could use more explanation because the symbols don’t mean anything to me.
Honestly, with how some companies have their own layouts of where the ports are placed, I would love this as an industry standard of marking where they are. Even if it’s a removable sticker strip down the side of the keyboard.
I keep thinking my charger is further up while it’s more in the middle on my newer laptop ^^;
Damn you dude, I know I’m almost 40 but no elder lol. I just plug it in and pray that it fits the first time but I do need it!
The elder? 😭 I’m 30, 5K hours of use on current laptop and I can’t find my ports sometimes
Dude, forget just the outers. You’d help me with those stickers
This is how they should come from the factory
Sell sticker packs, I’d buy one – avoid having to turn my notebook on its side to figure out where the port is.
Ex-speech therapist here – elderly people (especially with dementia, and just those old enough to have forgetfulness as a natural result of aging) need photos that are less “opaque” as it is referred to an AAC. “Opaque” means that the visual representations have no/little connection to their meaning, making it difficult to guess without prior exposure to the symbol, because it is still a symbol and not a literal picture. If possible, I would take photos of each type of cable that goes in the corresponding port (the end bit) and turn those into stickers. Then it would be “transparent” which is what is called “high iconicity” (easy-to-guess icons).
This is SUCH a cool idea, but this might be something to look into (not a lot of people would know, this is something I learned while learning about (and working with) Augmentative Alternative Communication as it is one of the core tenets to consider when designing something to help communicate how “easily guessable” something is.
This is such a sweet idea and I love the formatting. This is a wonderful idea for the general populace though, and can remain unchanged for them!
I mean, if they don’t understand that[ shaped connectors go into similarly shaped holes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUbIkNUFs-4) then how are they going to understand what those symbols mean
No offence why not just name them Internet, USBC USB power? If it’s to help elders? Heck grew up with these and don’t understand why use obscure symbols
nice, small things, but big personal impact
They won’t know what the sticker symbols mean.
Instructions unclear, gave all my life savings to the people calling me saying they are IRS and I will be arrested unless I buy google gift cards.
Amazing idea but if I were to do this for the elders in my family, they’d look at the symbols like they were Egyptian hieroglyphs. I think it’s better to just leave a short written note at each port
Not sure those confusing symbols are going to help an elderly person
Elders don’t understand those symbols. You them to say “charge here” and “printer”
For the ‘old’ usb one, an indication which side is up or down would be great. Not the usual “Logo side up” thing but a simple “The open half down” or something would be cool.
But no idea how to put that information into a small icon.
This is cool!!! How much?
Appreciate but I think it needs to be words— my mom would not know “tree” from “weird fork“ from “lightning plug”.
I feel like that 3 decades too late but still useful to me.
That’s actually handy. Lots of times I forget which port is where and you know everyone does the awkward tilt to left and right, haha
Having the Ethernet sticker actually look like the port would be better. The usb ones are pretty fine. Ultimately the goal would be “this shape plugs in here.”
Basically anyone who is not Millennial, or Younger Gen X needs these in my professional opinion (IT guy here)
If you’re going to the trouble of printing stickers… why not just have them say “USB”, “Power”, “USB-C”
Written labels would be better but great idea!
This would work only if the cables have the same stickers
This is why I love my USB hub.
Can this just be default on all laptops
Yeah, that is not helping them.
This is just a different kind of confusing featuring hieroglyphics.
There is no way any old person will know what they are for.
You might as well use egyptian hieroglyphs for all it will help the elders. Better color code it, green tagged cable goes in green tagged hole. At least there is some chance it might be useful.
I painted colored dots on the ports and painted the cable tips matching colors for my mom. She really appreciated that.
Which one is the “any” key sticker?
“I keep pressing the org chart button but I don’t see the org chart”