The context in which you use computers -
I have been a computer hardware and software developer.
-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
About 1963, writing Fortran programs on punch cards, and BASIC programs through Dartmouth time-sharing. And reading about hardware.
About 1976 I started owning my own computers, building a 6502-based Ohio Scientific, then later a 6502-based Apple-II then moving to IBM PC's.
-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
It took a lot of studying in those days to build your own computers, but BASIC could be learned in a day. THe IBM PC was primitive then compared to todays PCs.
The first versions of Windows were useless until version 3.33 or so. Windows-7 is surprisingly nice, compared to Vista which sucked to 2 microtorr.
But in 2011, it is very easy to get into PCs, best way is watch a video on YouTube for anything you don't completely understand. Just follow instructions, and don't try to find the <any key>.
-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Understanding other people's C# or task-oriented code, which I still have trouble with.
Debugging embedded assembler firmware without an emulator. Don't ever do this! I took many, many, many days to find ONE wrong 1-byte instruction, a RTS in place of an RTI. This is lethal and untraceable by hand !
-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Yes- stopping watching Noam Chomsky on YouTube at 4 AM. Same for Keith Olbermann. They rock !
Sometimes its hard to know exactly what your computer software or Opsys is doing these days, because they patronize even the power users.
-like Microsoft doesn't say what their latest HDD initialize commands actually do in Win-7 ! Do they do a surface defects scan?
-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
Yes, if in any doubt, "Google it" then YouTube it then Wiki it !
It's impossible to learn all modern SW, middleware, etc, computer technology, but I focus on what is future-looking and is useful for work and on the resume.
Also, if you can't spell, please spell check your posts so we know what you mean -- it's like the last 2 generations were taught by hippies ! (oh, they were..)
-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
They are much, much easier now, mainly due to the Web, and online free availability of information. Other people's experiences are blogged with many different SW and HW environments.
Before 2000, hard cover books and databooks were the only sources of information, now it's all on the Web, and in ebooks.
Also, desktop computers are so much more powerful, and SW tools are so advanced, that programs can be debugged, or complex models tried, in a few seconds per trial,
so brute force methods can be used, if you want to avoid thinking too much.
-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
Desktop + media computer + Youtube on DVD = 8 hrs
Human interaction = 1 hr.
TV "interaction" = the rest.
-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
Yes, very much, I am a meat computer. (..Bender)
Mobile devices and computers should converge more soon, so that every device doesn't have to do all functions, like overdesigned smart phones. Things should get simpler, more uniform.
iPads are overrated- they use crippled software.
Yes, - - As long as all the citizen surveillance by street cameras and email in the US cities doesn't trend further towards a police state, like in the UK.
-- And, as long as the Patriot acts are rescinded.
I don't like to fly anymore- submitting to all those searches without probable cause, greatly damages and helps obsolete the Bill of Rights.
Only a few years ago, we were not watched by anyone when we were outdoors, we were trusted and free.
Same with phone calls and email.
Regards!
Mike