Floppy disks turn out to be the greatest TV remote for kids

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Physical Media as Kid-Friendly UI

  • Many commenters like the idea of “programming” TV with physical objects kids can grab and understand, instead of navigating dark-patterned streaming UIs.
  • Floppies as “hooks” (IDs) rather than storage are praised: big, robust, tactile, easy to decorate, satisfying mechanical noises, and intuitively “one disk → one thing happens.”
  • Some see this as akin to choosing a book from a shelf: a simple, bounded choice kids can make without wandering into algorithmic recommendations.

Alternatives and Similar Systems

  • Several suggest RFID/NFC tags, QR cards, SD “cartridges,” or DVDs/CDs as simpler or more available media.
  • Off-the-shelf analogues: Yoto players, Tonies, Italian “myFaba,” library-like kids’ jukebox projects (Phoniebox, RPi + RFID, ESP32 builds, Batocera+Zaparoo).
  • Consensus: DIY is fun and flexible but takes time and debugging; commercial boxes are polished but can be expensive and locked to content stores.

Durability, Supply, and Design Tradeoffs

  • Debate over media robustness:
    • CDs/DVDs easily scratched by kids; floppies better-protected but still destructible (which some see as a useful lesson in caring for objects).
    • Others argue QR on wood blocks or generic flash carts are more durable and future-proof.
  • Concern that 3.5" floppies are now scarce/new-old-stock; others counter that even at higher prices, a small hobby supply is affordable.

Smart TV UX, Slowness, and Older Users

  • Long subthread on how modern TVs are hostile to both kids and elders: slow menus, ad-heavy home screens, confusing inputs, dependency on cable boxes, and disappearing “channel up/down” simplicity.
  • Many work around this with “dumb TV + smart box” setups, airgapping TVs, or using monitors and separate HDMI devices.
  • Frustration that manufacturers optimize for data collection and engagement rather than responsiveness or clarity.

Screen Time, Kids, and Independence

  • Split views on giving a 3-year-old independent control:
    • Critics argue toddlers shouldn’t have easy access to video at all and describe strong emotional dysregulation after even brief exposure.
    • Others see moderated, intentional screen use (especially educational content) as acceptable and sometimes necessary for parental sanity.
  • Broader discussion about boredom, self-regulation, and how content type and boundaries matter more than screens per se.