The unexpected origins of the Start menu's design
In short: Before it was a cornerstone of computing, the Start menu was born from a collaboration between a Microsoft program manager and a famous behavioral psychologist. This simple interface revolutionized how we interact with machines, evolving from a simple list into a complex, tile-based digital hub.
The Start menu, a staple of Microsoft Windows since Windows 95, was created in 1993 by Daniel Oran. Interestingly, Oran had previously worked with the renowned behavioral psychologist B.F. Skinner at Harvard on research involving great ape language. This background in behavioral science underscores the profound impact of interface design on human interaction.
The menu was designed to solve the limitations of the previous 'Program Manager,' which used a multiple document interface that could not nest groups within other groups. The Start menu introduced the ability to use cascading sub-menus, allowing for nested grouping while keeping only one group open at a time. This fundamental shift in navigation helped define the modern desktop experience.
Over decades, the menu has undergone radical transformations. Windows XP introduced a two-column layout, separating installed programs from special folders like 'My Music' and 'My Pictures.' Windows 8 and Windows Server 2012 famously replaced the menu with a full-screen 'Start screen' featuring dynamic 'live tiles.' This design, which drew inspiration from Windows Mobile and Windows Phone, was later refined in Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Today, the Start menu remains a highly contested and evolving element. While Windows 11 moved the Start button to the center of the taskbar and replaced tiles with a grid of pinned shortcuts, other operating systems like KDE Plasma and Xfce have co-opted the concept to provide a familiar Windows-like experience for their users.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Start menu
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