The latest episode of The Verge’s Version History podcast explores the cultural legacy and technical shortcomings of The Clapper, the iconic sound-activated home automation device from the 1980s.
Key Points
- The Clapper, originally marketed as The Great American Turn-On, became a viral sensation despite frequent malfunctions and potential hardware damage.
- Podcast hosts David Pierce and Victoria Song analyze the device's history with University of South Carolina professor Allison Marsh.
- This episode marks the sixth and final installment of the fourth season of the Version History series.
- Previous episodes in the season covered the development of the Roomba, Nest thermostat, Keurig coffee maker, and Philips Hue smart lights.