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Bill Atkinson: Hypercard

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1 HN user recommended this interview1 month2022–2025 score 1

Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

HN links it as the source of the story that HyperCard was inspired by an acid trip.

A short clip of Leo Laporte interviewing Bill Atkinson about developing HyperCard, including his story that the idea came during an LSD experience.

“His interview with Leo Laporte from 2013 is a great listen.” (HN, 2025)

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@thought_alarm Jun 2025 Recommends

on HN thread Bill Atkinson has died

Bill Atkinson was a very fascinating guy. His interview with Leo Laporte from 2013 is a great listen. Here's a little 6 minute clip: An acid trip, and the origins of Hypercard. [this video]

Short clip on an acid trip and HyperCard's origins.

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@pwdisswordfish9 Dec 2022 Cites it

on HN thread The Psychedelic Inspiration for Hypercard (2018)

From the Laporte interview: "I'm 65. I can tell things I wouldn't [have] told if I were earlier. Hypercard was inspired by an LSD trip." [this video]

Atkinson says HyperCard was inspired by an LSD trip.

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@willio58 Apr 2023 Cites it

on HN thread Hypercard got its Color Back

HyperCard was before my time but I love learning about it. It's pretty easy to draw a line from HyperCard to the web and web apps we all use today. It's also funny because the creator of HyperCard (Bill Atkinson) thought up the idea wall on LSD on a park bench: [this video]

Atkinson describing HyperCard's origin on LSD.

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