Military tech entered the classroom: David Pierce, Jake Kastrenakes and Antero Garcia on how overhead projectors took hold

From military technology to school

Overhead projectors were once used mostly for military purposes before entering classrooms. Their arrival changed more than students’ chances of getting away with things while a teacher faced the chalkboard.

The episode explores how the devices were developed and how they became part of school life. It also considers how they affected the way children learned.

A look back at classroom technology

David Pierce is joined by The Verge’s Jake Kastrenakes and Stanford professor Antero Garcia for the discussion. Together, they trace the projector’s history and examine its place in education.

The conversation also asks why overhead projectors have mostly gone away. It compares them with the technologies that followed, including PowerPoint presentations, computer screens and smart boards, and considers whether those replacements improved on the original.

Season finale and other devices

The episode closes the fifth season of Version History, which focused on iconic school technology. Other subjects included Oregon Trail, the original Chromebook, the One Laptop Per Child program, the LeapFrog LeapPad and Texas Instruments calculators. The Verge says subscribers can access Version History and its other podcasts without ads through their account settings.