GoKawiilThe Verge's Version History podcast traces the rise and fall of the overhead projector
In the season finale of its Version History podcast, The Verge explores how the overhead projector moved from military use into classrooms and reshaped teaching. Host David Pierce talks with Jake Kastrenakes and Stanford professor Antero Garcia about the device's history and why newer tools like PowerPoint, computer screens, and smart boards eventually replaced it. The episode caps a season covering iconic school technology including Oregon Trail, Chromebooks, One Laptop Per Child, LeapFrog's LeapPad, and TI calculators.
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The discussion frames classroom technology as a recurring cycle of adoption and obsolescence, suggesting each new tool is judged by whether it truly improves teaching rather than just updating the format. Garcia's academic perspective hints that nostalgia for older tech like the OHP may say as much about teaching philosophy as about the devices themselves. The episode also underscores how media outlets like The Verge are increasingly using podcasts to examine everyday technology history for a general audience.
- The episode examines the overhead projector's shift from military origins to classroom staple.
- Guests Jake Kastrenakes and Antero Garcia discuss why OHPs eventually fell out of use.
- The episode concludes Version History's season on iconic school technologies, including Oregon Trail and TI calculators.
Elmo document camera projector — Document cameras are basically the modern descendant of the overhead projector, letting teachers display worksheets, books, and objects live without transparencies. It's a great way to bring that OHP-style spontaneity into a digital classroom setup.
See Elmo document camera projector on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — David Pierce, 2026-10-18
Published there as: “How overhead projectors took over your classroom”
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