Rachel Plotnick
@rachelplotnick.bsky.social
Associate Prof, IU Media School. Hist of tech, interfaces, wearables, media tech and everyday life. Books: Power Button (MIT) bit.ly/2xMlmsr and License to Spill (MIT, out now!) https://shorturl.at/Yl1DP
I'm over the moon to be working with CBI -- an institution I've long admired. And grateful to be in the company of the fantastic @anitachan.bsky.social!
CBI is absolutely delighted to announce that thought-leading scholars University of Illinois' @anitachan.bsky.social & Indiana University's @rachelplotnick.bsky.social have just joined us as new CBI Research Fellows. Below is the link to the article. #histsci
cse.umn.edu/cbi/news/cbi...
cse.umn.edu/cbi/news/cbi...
CBI Names Anita Say Chan and Rachel Plotnick as the Institute’s New Research Fellows
MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (10/09/2025)—The Charles Babbage Institute for Computing, Information and Culture (CBI) is delighted to announce the addition of University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana’s Anita...
cse.umn.edu
October 9, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I'm over the moon to be working with CBI -- an institution I've long admired. And grateful to be in the company of the fantastic @anitachan.bsky.social!
License to Spill, spotted at 4S! @4sweb.bsky.social @mitpress.bsky.social
September 5, 2025 at 5:29 PM
License to Spill, spotted at 4S! @4sweb.bsky.social @mitpress.bsky.social
License to Spill, hanging with lots of cool neighbor books, at the @mitpress.bsky.social booth at @icahdq.bsky.social!
June 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
License to Spill, hanging with lots of cool neighbor books, at the @mitpress.bsky.social booth at @icahdq.bsky.social!
Cool except from my book on the wet history of media in the bathroom, now on the @mitpress reader! With perfect timing, I'll be talking about media and toilets this weekend at ICA for those attending. thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-wet-hist...
The Wet History of Media in the Bathroom
How media technologies made themselves at home in one of the most private spaces of modern life.
thereader.mitpress.mit.edu
June 12, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Cool except from my book on the wet history of media in the bathroom, now on the @mitpress reader! With perfect timing, I'll be talking about media and toilets this weekend at ICA for those attending. thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-wet-hist...
There are a lot of folk theories and confusion out there about how water resistant our devices really are and what to do with them when they get wet.
Nearly everyone has encountered the unthinkable: Your smartphone landed in the toilet. A technology researcher debunks 5 common myths about devices getting wet and how to deal with them: buff.ly/cDIGiHX @rachelplotnick.bsky.social, Indiana University
Debunking 5 myths about when your devices get wet
When it comes to drying out your drenched device, problematic myths about liquid protection and repair make it hard to separate fact from fiction.
buff.ly
June 3, 2025 at 1:10 PM
There are a lot of folk theories and confusion out there about how water resistant our devices really are and what to do with them when they get wet.
I've got a new article out with @theconversation.com, which debunks common myths about water resistance and consumer technologies - building on my new book, License to Spill! theconversation.com/debunking-5-...
Debunking 5 myths about when your devices get wet
When it comes to drying out your drenched device, problematic myths about liquid protection and repair make it hard to separate fact from fiction.
theconversation.com
June 2, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I've got a new article out with @theconversation.com, which debunks common myths about water resistance and consumer technologies - building on my new book, License to Spill! theconversation.com/debunking-5-...
A fun excerpt from my new book is now up on IEEE Spectrum, which thinks about a history of wetness and telephones -- it's fascinating that teething babies and wet umbrellas could disrupt telephone service! @spectrum.ieee.org
spectrum.ieee.org/license-to-s...
spectrum.ieee.org/license-to-s...
Teething Babies and Rainy Days Once Cut Calls Short
“Trouble men” searched for water damage in early analog telephones
spectrum.ieee.org
May 15, 2025 at 2:34 PM
A fun excerpt from my new book is now up on IEEE Spectrum, which thinks about a history of wetness and telephones -- it's fascinating that teething babies and wet umbrellas could disrupt telephone service! @spectrum.ieee.org
spectrum.ieee.org/license-to-s...
spectrum.ieee.org/license-to-s...
License to Spill is now available open access to read FREE digitally! And yes, we are all soggy bodies!
"@RachelPlotnick.bsky.social, our premier cultural historian of technological mishap and subversion, won’t let us forget that we—like our machines—are soggy bodies. Hugely fun and illuminating." — John Durham Peters
"License to Spill" is out now and #openaccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
"License to Spill" is out now and #openaccess: mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
May 14, 2025 at 12:27 PM
License to Spill is now available open access to read FREE digitally! And yes, we are all soggy bodies!
It's been a busy week -- talking about buttons and the mess of liquids + devices -- had a great chat here about my new book.
If you’ve dropped your phone in a puddle, you know about "death by liquid." Listen to @rachelplotnick.bsky.social discuss her new book "License to Spill" on the Something You Should Know podcast:
www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/1197-water-v...
www.somethingyoushouldknow.net/1197-water-v...
1197 Water vs. Tech: How Moisture Ruins Your Devices & Why We Need Stress
www.somethingyoushouldknow.net
May 9, 2025 at 9:11 PM
It's been a busy week -- talking about buttons and the mess of liquids + devices -- had a great chat here about my new book.
It was great chatting with @scifri.bsky.social again about buttons since my last interview in 2019 -- back then they were a "dying" interface and now we're seeing a fascinating resurgence.
In recent years, digital touchscreens have replaced many car controls, but now physical buttons and knobs seem to be making a comeback. @rachelplotnick.bsky.social and @jmorri2.bsky.social join us to talk about the pros and cons of physical controls and why automakers might choose one over another.
Are Physical Buttons And Knobs Making A Comeback?
Some car designers are turning from touchscreen controls back to physical buttons. Two researchers explain why that could be better.
www.sciencefriday.com
May 9, 2025 at 8:40 PM
It was great chatting with @scifri.bsky.social again about buttons since my last interview in 2019 -- back then they were a "dying" interface and now we're seeing a fascinating resurgence.
Got my hands on the real thing. They are gorgeous! With enormous gratitude to The MIT Press for the beautiful design. 😍 @mitpress.bsky.social
April 30, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Got my hands on the real thing. They are gorgeous! With enormous gratitude to The MIT Press for the beautiful design. 😍 @mitpress.bsky.social
Today, License to Spill is out! I puzzle through "media hygiene": maintenance, repair, protection, and messy boundaries between wet/dry, bodies/environments, and people/devices. You can purchase a copy with a 30% off discount today only!! Code MITP30 www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777570...
License to Spill by Rachel Plotnick: 9780262551588 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
How everyday wetness—from finger smudges, sweat, and spilled drinks to showering and swimming—collides with consumers’ media devices designed to stay dry. License to Spill investigates...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
April 29, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Today, License to Spill is out! I puzzle through "media hygiene": maintenance, repair, protection, and messy boundaries between wet/dry, bodies/environments, and people/devices. You can purchase a copy with a 30% off discount today only!! Code MITP30 www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/777570...
Barnes & Noble is once again offering a good 25% preorder discount for License to Spill and other books. I know it's hard to afford books these days!!! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/license-to...
License to Spill: Where Dry Devices Meet Liquid Lives|Paperback
How everyday wetness—from finger smudges, sweat, and spilled drinks to showering and swimming—collides with consumers’ media devices designed to stay dry.License to Spill investigate...
www.barnesandnoble.com
April 23, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Barnes & Noble is once again offering a good 25% preorder discount for License to Spill and other books. I know it's hard to afford books these days!!! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/license-to...
Only one week until License to Spill hits the shelves. With back-of-the-book blurbs from people those work I deeply admire -- John Durham Peters, Nicole Starosielski, Neta Alexander, and Jussi Parikka. Totally humbled!
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
License to Spill
License to Spill investigates the everyday moments, activities, and spaces where media technologies and liquids collide—from disastrous spilled drinks ...
mitpress.mit.edu
April 22, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Only one week until License to Spill hits the shelves. With back-of-the-book blurbs from people those work I deeply admire -- John Durham Peters, Nicole Starosielski, Neta Alexander, and Jussi Parikka. Totally humbled!
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
Hard to self-promote in these difficult times, but my next book is available for pre-order and will be released April 29 in paperback and open access! I detail the muck and mess of living with media technologies - from toilets and coffee spills to sweat and saliva. mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
March 31, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Hard to self-promote in these difficult times, but my next book is available for pre-order and will be released April 29 in paperback and open access! I detail the muck and mess of living with media technologies - from toilets and coffee spills to sweat and saliva. mitpress.mit.edu/978026255158...
This World According to Sound podcast on Media Objects is the most beautiful and cinematic interpretation of my work. If you're into sound, put on headphones and tour through this 1-hr journey on the history and culture of buttons. Other episodes are amazing, too!!
m.soundcloud.com/worldaccordi...
m.soundcloud.com/worldaccordi...
Media Objects: Buttons
Stream Media Objects: Buttons by World According to Sound on desktop and mobile. Play over 320 million tracks for free on SoundCloud.
m.soundcloud.com
February 20, 2025 at 3:36 PM
This World According to Sound podcast on Media Objects is the most beautiful and cinematic interpretation of my work. If you're into sound, put on headphones and tour through this 1-hr journey on the history and culture of buttons. Other episodes are amazing, too!!
m.soundcloud.com/worldaccordi...
m.soundcloud.com/worldaccordi...
Amidst all that's happening right now, I'm super excited to share a look at the cover for my next book - coming out with The MIT Press on April 29! Today thru Friday the 7th, you can get a 25% discount on a pre-order if you're a Barnes & Noble rewards member. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/license-to...
February 5, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Amidst all that's happening right now, I'm super excited to share a look at the cover for my next book - coming out with The MIT Press on April 29! Today thru Friday the 7th, you can get a 25% discount on a pre-order if you're a Barnes & Noble rewards member. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/license-to...
Today!! Come out and support ROMchip journal and bring your favorite drink of choice!
📢 TODAY ONLY @ 2PM ET // @rachelplotnick.bsky.social talks 🥤 Energy Drinks and the Optimized Gamer 💦 LIVE on TWITCH https://buff.ly/4hgQtAg
💸 Our talks are always FREE and OPEN to the public. DONATE: https://buff.ly/3PQ2HDE
✅ SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER: https://buff.ly/3EcGjSu
💸 Our talks are always FREE and OPEN to the public. DONATE: https://buff.ly/3PQ2HDE
✅ SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER: https://buff.ly/3EcGjSu
ROMchipJournal - Twitch
Welcome to the Twitch channel for ROMchip: A Journal of Game Histories, a free, online scholarly journal for game history. ROMchip develops, edits, and publishes ad-free, open access game history…
buff.ly
January 31, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Today!! Come out and support ROMchip journal and bring your favorite drink of choice!
One week until I talk about energy drinks in gaming and their historical context - I'll be thinking about attention, fatigue, performance, and what that has to do with media. It's free but register to attend!
📣 NEXT FRIDAY 📣 @rachelplotnick.bsky.social serves up the history of game energy drinks 💦 for our next ROMchip Presents Twitch, Jan 31 @ 2pm. More info and tix here www.tickettailor.com/events/romch... 🧑💻
Select tickets – ROMchip Presents: Rachel Plotnick and "Powering Performance: Energy Drinks and the Optimized Gamer" – Twitch
Join us Friday, January 31, as ROMchip: A Journal of Game Histories hosts scholar Rachel Plotnick for her talk "Powering Perfor...
www.tickettailor.com
January 24, 2025 at 5:36 PM
One week until I talk about energy drinks in gaming and their historical context - I'll be thinking about attention, fatigue, performance, and what that has to do with media. It's free but register to attend!
I wrote for The Toronto Star about touchscreens in cars - and how the future might just involve a return to buttons...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
January 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I wrote for The Toronto Star about touchscreens in cars - and how the future might just involve a return to buttons...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
www.thestar.com/opinion/cont...
Super excited to give this talk on energy drinks for @romchip.bsky.social at the end of next month!
FRIDAY JAN 31 @ 2PM // @rachelplotnick.bsky.social on "Powering Performance: Energy Drinks and the Optimized Gamer." 🎮🧟 This talk explores the history of energy drinks and the gaming culture that surrounds them! 💦
www.tickettailor.com/events/romch...
www.tickettailor.com/events/romch...
Select tickets – ROMchip Presents: Rachel Plotnick and "Powering Performance: Energy Drinks and the Optimized Gamer" – Twitch
Join us Friday, January 31, as ROMchip: A Journal of Game Histories hosts scholar Rachel Plotnick for her talk "Powering Perfor...
www.tickettailor.com
December 9, 2024 at 11:58 PM
Super excited to give this talk on energy drinks for @romchip.bsky.social at the end of next month!
Reposted by Rachel Plotnick
New episode now live: @niedermeyer.io and @alexroy144.bsky.social sit down with Dr Rachel Plotnick, author of "Power Button" to discuss the history of buttons in cars and what it can teach about the future of UI.
www.autonocast.com/blog/2024/11/21/320-pushing-buttons-with-dr-rachel-plotnick
www.autonocast.com/blog/2024/11/21/320-pushing-buttons-with-dr-rachel-plotnick
www.autonocast.com
November 21, 2024 at 6:27 PM
New episode now live: @niedermeyer.io and @alexroy144.bsky.social sit down with Dr Rachel Plotnick, author of "Power Button" to discuss the history of buttons in cars and what it can teach about the future of UI.
www.autonocast.com/blog/2024/11/21/320-pushing-buttons-with-dr-rachel-plotnick
www.autonocast.com/blog/2024/11/21/320-pushing-buttons-with-dr-rachel-plotnick
Having chatted in interviews and on a podcast this week, I'm fascinated by how impassioned people get by the interfaces they love (and love to hate). People have so much to say about their favorite button or the touchscreen that drives them crazy!
November 20, 2024 at 10:24 PM
Having chatted in interviews and on a podcast this week, I'm fascinated by how impassioned people get by the interfaces they love (and love to hate). People have so much to say about their favorite button or the touchscreen that drives them crazy!