Fun & viral · Character Scenes
Explain technology to someone from the past: practice with a blacksmith
Start from what they already know: a phone is like a telegraph you carry in your pocket that sends voices and pictures instead of dots and dashes, and the internet is like a library and a post office joined together. Use one analogy at a time, check that it landed, and skip the jargon. Practice with Ezekiel Pratt, a suspicious blacksmith from 1850 who just appeared in your kitchen.
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Updated October 2026
Who it's for
Who this practice is for
- Teachers who want to practice explaining hard ideas in plain words.
- Engineers who need to describe tech to people outside their field.
- Anyone making social content about time travelers meeting modern life.
- People who freeze when someone says they do not understand.
What happens
How a session goes
- Ezekiel Pratt speaks first. He points at the phone in your hand, a glowing slate to him, and asks how it can talk, chime and show a picture.
- You explain modern tech using things he knows. He reacts to every word and stays suspicious.
- The scene ends when you clearly explain the tech or clearly lose him.
Real lines from a test session
What Ezekiel Pratt said in a test session
“You pressed this flat glass and a painted likeness of my face appeared. How did a painter work so fast?”
“Stored as an invisible pattern! Great heavens, woman, you speak of ghosts and spirits! A pattern you cannot see, etched by lightning into a slate, that summons my face at the touch of a finger?”
“Nailed the idea! Well now, that is a kindly thing to say, stranger.”
From a test session of this practice in the app, lightly trimmed. Your session goes its own way: the character reacts to what you say.
The scorecard
What the scorecard looked like for Ezekiel Pratt
“It probably sends a whole storm of tiny light messages all at once, faster than any wire could manage—more like a loom weaving many threads in an instant.”
You offered a new analogy (loom) when he had just heard 'telegraph' and was still objecting; a single sustained analogy would have built trust sooner.
Try instead: “Think of each tiny dot of light as a thread, and the camera's sensor as a loom that weaves them into your face in a single pass—same as a Jacquard card, only the card is made of light.”
What went well: Validating his understanding by saying 'that's honestly a pretty good way to put it' turned suspicion into shared discovery.
Real scorecard output from one of our test runs. In test runs the practice answers are written by a test script, not by a customer.
What good looks like
What a strong answer does here
- You compare the phone to a telegraph that sends messages without wires.
- You explain one idea at a time and ask if he follows before moving on.
- You use humor about the situation without making fun of him.
- You avoid jargon like Wi-Fi or apps, or you explain it right away.
Scored on:
- Wit
- Clarity
- Persuasion
- Composure
- Staying in the scene
Common mistakes
Weak lines, and what to say instead
Weak: “It's a smartphone with apps and Wi-Fi.”
Better: “It's like a telegraph that sends messages through the air, and each app is a different job it can do.”
Jargon without an analogy leaves him lost.
Weak: “You wouldn't understand, it's too advanced.”
Better: “Think of it as a forge for words. You put in a message and it comes out somewhere else.”
Patience and respect keep him listening.
Weak: “Everyone has one, it's normal.”
Better: “I know it seems strange. Let me show you one thing at a time, like a new tool in your shop.”
Checking he follows beats assuming he gets it.
Weak: “It just works, okay?”
Better: “It uses controlled explosions, like your forge, but tiny and safe inside.”
A clear analogy from his world makes it real.
Explain a Smartphone to a Man From 1850: start talking in a few seconds. Your own side stays yours to fill in.
Try it free, no signupMake this useful for your next conversation
Your character scenes practice plan
- Understand the character’s goal
- Listen and adapt your approach
- Make a clear persuasive request
Start with a free worksheet, then test your own response with a voice or text roleplay. Your first complete coaching report is free once across all areas. Create a free account to save your goal, actual words, and downloadable notes.
Need repeated practice? $4.99 once buys 100 rounds across every mode and full coaching on every report. Rounds never expire; no subscription is required.
FAQ
Questions about Ezekiel Pratt
Do I have to talk out loud?
You can talk out loud or type at any time. Ezekiel Pratt speaks first, so you hear his voice and see his 3D face. Then you answer however you like. The scene reacts to every word you say or type. Try it free →
What does Ezekiel Pratt already know?
He is a blacksmith from 1850. He knows telegraphs, letters, forges, and horses. He does not know phones, Wi-Fi, or apps. Your job is to use his world to explain yours. He stays suspicious and pushes back. Try it free →
Is this good practice for explaining things at work?
Yes. Explaining technology to someone from 1850 forces the same habits that help with customers, new hires or executives: start from what they know, use one analogy, check understanding, and drop the jargon. It’s just more fun when the listener wants to smash your phone. Try it free →
Try Explain a Smartphone to a Man From 1850 free
4 free rounds now, no signup. 7 with a free account. Then $4.99 for 100 rounds, one time, with no subscription. Plans are there if you practice every day.
Try it free, no signupBuilt by Matthew, a solo founder. Questions? Email support@getadversaryai.com, I read every message.