--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The future lies in designing and selling…" description: "\"The future lies in designing and selling computers that people don't realize are computers at all.\" — Adam Osborne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/adam-osborne-32374_computers_the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling_366445.png" --- # The future lies in designing and selling computers that… ![“The future lies in designing and selling computers that people don't realize are computers at all.” quote by Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/adam-osborne-32374_computers_the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling_366445.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/adam-osborne-32374_computers_the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling_366445.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/adam-osborne-32374_computers_the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling_366445.png) > “The future lies in designing and selling computers that people don't realize are computers at all.” [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Computers will become so integrated and user‑friendly that people won’t recognize them as traditional machines. **In simple terms:** Computing will become invisible and seamless. Key Takeaway Design intuitive, invisible technology. Themes technology design future user experience Mood speculative visionary Type prediction philosophical When to use this quote - smart homes - wearable devices - AI assistants Key Concepts human‑computer interaction ubiquitous computing product design Questions to Reflect On - What ethical safeguards are needed? - How will users stay informed about hidden tech? A Different Perspective Risk of over‑reliance on opaque systems; privacy concerns. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Computers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Selling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/selling/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Bill Gates did predict that computers for people made sense because he wrote a basic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wozniak/bill-gates-did-predict-that-computers-for-people-made-sense-because/) [Steve Wozniak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wozniak/) > [The spread of computers and the Internet will put jobs in two categories. People who tell computers what to do, and people who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/the-spread-of-computers-and-the-internet-will-put-jobs-in-two/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [The roots of apple were to build computers for people, not for corporations. The world doesn't need another dell or compaq.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-jobs/the-roots-of-apple-were-to-build-computers-for-people-not-for/) [Steve Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-jobs/) > [People who tell computers what to do, and people who are told by computers what to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-andreessen/people-who-tell-computers-what-to-do-and-people-who-are-told-by/) [Marc Andreessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-andreessen/) > [The computers people have are no longer on their desks but in their hands, and that is probably the transformative feature of the technology.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caterina-fake/the-computers-people-have-are-no-longer-on-their-desks-but-in-their/) [Caterina Fake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caterina-fake/) > [The only way we can fly planes and use computers is because people were curious about their world and also skeptical about the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hyneman/the-only-way-we-can-fly-planes-and-use-computers-is-because-people/) [Jamie Hyneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hyneman/) > [Early on, when software was developed by computer scientists, just people working with computers, people passed around software because that was how you got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-o-reilly/early-on-when-software-was-developed-by-computer-scientists-just/) [Tim O'Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-o-reilly/) > [The Web is actually a coming together of three technologies, if you like: the hypertext, the personal computer, and the network. So, the network…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-cailliau/the-web-is-actually-a-coming-together-of-three-technologies-if-you/) [Robert Cailliau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-cailliau/) > [Pixar is not about computers, it's about people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/pixar-is-not-about-computers-it-s-about-people/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [When computers (people) are networked, their power multiplies geometrically. Not only can people share all that information inside their machines, but they can reach…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-mcnealy/when-computers-people-are-networked-their-power-multiplies/) [Scott McNealy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-mcnealy/) > [Organized common (or uncommon) sense -- very basic knowledge -- is an enormously powerful tool. There are huge dangers with computers. People calculate too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-munger/organized-common-or-uncommon-sense-very-basic-knowledge-is-an/) [Charlie Munger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-munger/) > [Marketing isn't done by computers, it's done by people. And people who sense opportunity and have the confidence to be remarkable will always defeat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/marketing-isn-t-done-by-computers-it-s-done-by-people-and-people-who/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [What I try to do is factor in how people use computers, what people's problems are, and how these technologies can get applied to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warnock/what-i-try-to-do-is-factor-in-how-people-use-computers-what-people-s/) [John Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warnock/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) ## More by Adam Osborne > [Adequacy is sufficient.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/adequacy-is-sufficient/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [There'll be a special place in hell for the tape back-up people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/there-ll-be-a-special-place-in-hell-for-the-tape-back-up-people/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [With bundled machines you can throw away the hardware and keep the software, and it's still a good buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/with-bundled-machines-you-can-throw-away-the-hardware-and-keep-the/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [I take what I see work. I'm a strict believer in the scientific principle of believing nothing, only taking the best evidence available at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/i-take-what-i-see-work-i-m-a-strict-believer-in-the-scientific/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [Money coming in says I've made the right marketing decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/money-coming-in-says-i-ve-made-the-right-marketing-decisions/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [Adequacy is sufficient. All else is superfluous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/adequacy-is-sufficient-all-else-is-superfluous/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [We can learn from IBM's successful history that you don't have to have the best product to become number one. You don't even have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/we-can-learn-from-ibm-s-successful-history-that-you-don-t-have-to/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [This is the ultimate con game - I'm having fun and people pay me to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/this-is-the-ultimate-con-game-i-m-having-fun-and-people-pay-me-to-do/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake. You can't learn anything from being perfect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/the-most-valuable-thing-you-can-make-is-a-mistake-you-can-t-learn/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [The small businessman is smart; he realizes there's no free lunch. On the other hand, he knows where to go to get a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/the-small-businessman-is-smart-he-realizes-there-s-no-free-lunch-on/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [People think computers will keep them from making mistakes. They're wrong. With computers you make mistakes faster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/people-think-computers-will-keep-them-from-making-mistakes-they-re/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [Venture capitalists are like lemmings jumping on the software bandwagon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/venture-capitalists-are-like-lemmings-jumping-on-the-software/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [I liken myself to Henry Ford and the auto industry, I give you 90 percent of what most people need.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/i-liken-myself-to-henry-ford-and-the-auto-industry-i-give-you-90/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) > [The guy who knows about computers is the last person you want to have creating documentation for people who don't understand computers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/the-guy-who-knows-about-computers-is-the-last-person-you-want-to-have/) [Adam Osborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) [Explore all 15 Adam Osborne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/) ## More Computers quotes > [I don't understand why we're all connected wirelessly via a little machine that goes in our pocket, to everybody in the world, and you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-m-chu/i-don-t-understand-why-we-re-all-connected-wirelessly-via-a-little/) [Jon M. Chu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-m-chu/) > [“Probably it goes without saying, but time machine guys don't get a lot of action. Had a one night stand with something cute a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/probably-it-goes-without-saying-but-time-machine-guys-don-t-get-a-lot/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [The time that one gains cannot be accumulated in a storehouse; it is contradictory to want to save up existence, which, the fact is,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-time-that-one-gains-cannot-be-accumulated-in-a-storehouse-it-is/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Issac:"I dislike living in a world without Augustus Waters." Computer: "I don't understand-" Issac: "Me neither. Pause](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/issac-i-dislike-living-in-a-world-without-augustus-waters-computer-i/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [“Note found in the patron suggestion box: "You have SIGNS up near the computers that say BE QUIET, but people don't be quiet. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-sheridan/note-found-in-the-patron-suggestion-box-you-have-signs-up-near-the/) [Gina Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-sheridan/) > [“You weren't born to be a cog in the giant industrial machine. You were trained to become a cog. There's an alternative available to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/you-weren-t-born-to-be-a-cog-in-the-giant-industrial-machine-you-were/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [The corporate state is an immensely powerful machine, ordered, legalistic, rational, yet utterly out of human control, wholly and perfectly indifferent to any human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-reich/the-corporate-state-is-an-immensely-powerful-machine-ordered/) [Charles A. Reich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-a-reich/) > [The display is the computer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jen-hsun-huang/the-display-is-the-computer/) Jen-Hsun Huang > [The popular mind often pictures gigantic flying machines speeding across the Atlantic carrying innumerable passengers in a way analogous to our modern steam ships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-pickering/the-popular-mind-often-pictures-gigantic-flying-machines-speeding/) William Henry Pickering > [“Alan Turing proposed the Turing Test: a computer is intelligent if you can't tell it from a human when you talk with it. No…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cjs-hayward/alan-turing-proposed-the-turing-test-a-computer-is-intelligent-if-you/) [CJS Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cjs-hayward/) > [Computers can be taught that certain tune or certain chords changes will sound pleasant together, but I don't think it's going to reach a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonobo/computers-can-be-taught-that-certain-tune-or-certain-chords-changes/) [Bonobo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonobo/) > [Can you imagine any better example of divine creative accomplishment that the consummate flying machine that is a bird? The skeleton, very flexible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-murchie/can-you-imagine-any-better-example-of-divine-creative-accomplishment/) [Guy Murchie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-murchie/) > [“According to this model, human beings are, at least in one aspect, sensation-receiving machines; and although our receptory apparatus is competent to select and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cruce-stark/according-to-this-model-human-beings-are-at-least-in-one-aspect/) Cruce Stark > [As in any machine, all the wires must be connected to the mains through one main wire. In the same way, you all must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nirmala-srivastava/as-in-any-machine-all-the-wires-must-be-connected-to-the-mains/) [Nirmala Srivastava](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nirmala-srivastava/) [Browse all 9,389 Computers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/computers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The future lies in designing and selling computers that people don't realize are computers at all.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Adam Osborne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling-computers-that-people-don-t/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Computers" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling-computers-that-people-don-t/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/adam-osborne-32374_computers_the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling_366445.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/adam-osborne-32374_computers_the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling_366445.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/29e/adam-osborne-32374_computers_the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling_366445.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The future lies in designing and selling computers that people don't realize are computers at all.” — Adam Osborne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Adam Osborne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-osborne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The future lies in designing and...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling-computers-that-people-don-t/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-osborne/the-future-lies-in-designing-and-selling-computers-that-people-don-t/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```