The Hidden Change in Computers

If you used a computer in the 90s, you remember screens that looked like grey boxes with buttons that popped out. Today, our screens are sleek, flat, and often just pictures. This change makes computers prettier, but it also hides how they work.

The “Button” Problem

In early versions of Windows (like Windows 95), a button looked like a button. It had shadows that made it look 3D and “clickable.”

Implied Knowledge

The shift to “Flat Design” (what we have now) relies on implied knowledge. Designers assume you already know how a computer works.

Then: You saw a button, you knew to click it.
Now: You see three dots ... or a “hamburger” icon ≡, and you must know that it opens a menu.

This is why modern interfaces can feel intuitive to some (who learned the “language”) and completely baffling to others.

Can You Guess?

Why might a modern 'flat' interface be harder for a beginner to learn than an old Windows 95 style interface?

What Computers “Can” Do

The other major shift is in capability. In the past, software came with a manual. You read what it could do. Now, apps are so capable that features are often hidden until you search for them or accidentally find them.

✨ The 'Right-Click' Secret Click to reveal!

One of the biggest “secrets” of implied knowledge is the Right-Click (or long-press on phones). almost everything on a modern screen has a hidden menu if you right-click it. Beginners often never find these features because there is no visual sign saying “Right-click me for options!”

How to adapt

Don’t be afraid to click. In modern design, if it looks different, it’s probably interactive.
Look for patterns. Three lines (≡), three dots (...), and gears (⚙️) almost always mean “Settings” or “More Options.”
Hover is your friend. If you are unsure if something is a button, move your mouse cursor over it. If the cursor changes to a hand 👆 or the item changes color slightly, it’s clickable.

Hunt for the Hidden Menus

Take a moment to look at your browser window right now.

Find the three dots or lines in the top corner. Click them.
Right-click on an empty space on this web page.
Right-click on a tab at the top of your screen.

Notice how many options were hiding in plain sight?

Key Takeaways

✓ Computers moved from '3D' buttons to 'Flat' design, making them cleaner but sometimes harder to read.
✓ 'Implied Knowledge' means assuming the user knows the unwritten rules of interfaces (like 'three dots means menu').
✓ Modern UIs hide complexity. You often have to explore (hover, right-click, tap) to find what is possible.
✓ If you feel stuck, it's not you—it's likely a design that relies on knowledge you haven't been taught yet.