TheEMU(", Floppy Disk, and the Future of the Save Button

For more than a decade, the floppy disk icon has served as an unspoken, yet universally recognized, beacon for the save button. But as technology evolves, would developers ever consider chucking the floppy disk altogether? This article delves into the history, symbolism, and inevitable decline of the floppy disk icon in software design.

Skeuomorphs in Software Design

Let's start by understanding what skeuomorphs are. A skeuomorph is a feature or design element in a new, modern technology that imitates or retains an attribute from its predecessor. The floppy disk icon is a classic example of a skeuomorph. Originating from the desktop-publishing era, the floppy disk's shape and appearance were necessary for early software interfaces. However, many people are unaware that the icon has persisted long past the floppy disk's practical use.

The Evolution of Data Storage

Back in the day, the floppy disk was the primary medium for personal computer data storage. Floppy disks were lightweight, portable, and capable of holding fairly large amounts of data for the time. The iconic design of the floppy disk became a symbol of saving data, even as storage technologies evolved—hard drives, CDs, DVDs, and finally cloud storage took over. As cloud storage became the norm, the floppy disk icon remained, a relic of past technology and a symbol of user convenience.

Why Developers Haven't Yet Ditched the Floppy Disk

Typically, user interfaces should be intuitive and efficient. The floppy disk icon serves as a primer for everyday users, making them feel at ease with the functionality of saving data. However, many more contemporary applications have already moved away from this convention. For instance, Google Docs and Sheets use a checkmark symbol to indicate that changes have been saved, making the process more modern and straightforward.

Now, why would developers maintain an outdated icon when they can choose something more contemporary? The answer lies in user familiarity and ease. Changing the icon might require additional user education and could temporarily confuse users. Hence, the floppy disk icon remains a convention because it has proven to be effective in user interfaces, even if it is no longer necessary with the advent of newer technologies.

The Decline of the Floppy Disk Icon

The rationale for the floppy disk icon is based on legacy and user experience. However, as time progresses, these reasons may diminish. For example, word processors used to rely on keystrokes that mimicked typewriter functions, such as the 'n' for newline and 'r' for carriage return. These conventions are now passé, replaced by modern keyboard shortcuts and more intuitive commands. Similarly, the oilcan icon for low oil pressure in cars is a symbol of an outdated technology. Just as this icon will likely remain until internal combustion engines are phased out, the floppy disk icon may persist until the need for saving data manually is no longer present.

Towards a Future Without the Save Button

Today, many web-based office applications, including Google Docs, automatically save changes without requiring a manual trigger from the user. The “Save” operation becomes a seamless part of the workflow. In a world where everything is auto-saved, the concept of a save button itself becomes obsolete. While we might not see an entirely new icon, the manual step of saving data might gradually disappear.

Consider the automatic save feature in cloud storage. Once a document is opened in a web-based application, developers can implement features that save the document every few minutes. This approach not only eliminates the need for a save button but also ensures that users never lose their work due to accidental loss or system crashes.

The Future in Perspective

The floppy disk icon has become so deeply ingrained in user interfaces that it will likely hang around for a while longer. Some might argue that more people have encountered a 3.5-inch floppy disk than an oilcan icon, at least in a practical context. As long as software applications continue to rely on auto-save mechanisms, the floppy disk icon might seem like a familiar ancestor to users, even if its practical purpose has faded away.

Conclusion

The floppy disk icon is a testament to the power of user convention and the challenges of technological change. While developers have started to move away from this symbol, the floppy disk's design is so integral to our current understanding of saving data that its legacy is likely to persist. Yet, as technology evolves, the floppy disk will eventually be pushed into the realm of legacy icons, just as the oilcan icon now exists primarily in memory.