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General discussion

Why are computers still so difficult to use?

Feb 11, 2011 6:14AM PST
Question:

Why are computers still so difficult to use?


Hi, Lee, I know this is not the technical question you normally receive, but I was hoping you can have your community members help me out in a big way.

As a final year college student I need to carry out an independent project looking at an issue in the domain of my subject. I chose the question, "Why are computers still so difficult to use?" To start my project I compiled several questions to explore experiences of computer users (see below). A summary of what I am wanting to look at are competency levels of users with computers, how they got into using them, the time they'll spend on them in a day, their challenges and how they manage them, their happiness in using them, their thoughts on the increasing functionality/pervasiveness of computers, and their opinions as to whether computing is any easier now. It would be great if you could give me some pointers as to suitable themes you think would make a good project--even if you were to challenge the title! Could you also tell me of the context in which you use computers (e.g., as a software developer, moderate user, etc.)? Thanks in advance for everyone's help. Here are the questions I would like to ask the community:
Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

Here are the questions I would like to ask the community:

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?

-- Do you have any challenges even now?

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?

--Submitted by Ronald G. of Warwick University in UK


If you would like to help out Ronald with his college project and answer his survey, click the link below and click the "reply" to submit your answers:

Discussion is locked

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Never Been Real Hard
Feb 18, 2011 12:13PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
Not a specific year but I started on a commodore 64 as a kid

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Yes

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Actually pretty straightforward even my transition to Macs for personal use, and my being forced into an IT manager position at work and having to learn servers hasn't been really hard.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Every now and then but I use Spiceworks for IT professionals, or Google for help

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? No

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Yes there's a lot more information available, I have no IT schooling but had to fill an IT position at work due to the economy.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? 10-12 hours

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
Yes

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Poorly Worded Qustion
Feb 18, 2011 12:32PM PST

The question should be "Are Computers difficult to use?" not "Why are computers still so difficult to use?"
I started in 1961 when I attended lectures about a LCP30 using the ACT III language. I was first paid to program in 1967 SAAL II (assembler) on a Univac 1005, and l;ast paid to programon SUN Unix system in 2001.

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re: Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 12:30PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? About 1990. Hard drives were measured in Kilobytes then, and we couldn't imagine needing a megabyte for anything!

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Yes

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Fairly straightforward, I learned over time as things were introduced. The biggest challenge was our first crash, in 2002. Lost a lot of info and learned a bunch then.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Yes, many more. Things are constantly going wrong, needing updating or upgrading, and I'm spending hours fixing problems, working on compatability of upgrades, learning new software, new O.S's, etc. I feel like in the last 3 to 5 years I've spent more time on learning curves and troubleshooting than I have actually using my computer for anything useful.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? I usually search online at techie forums for answers and talk to others who are more knowledgeable. I think I'm going to stop upgrading software because it's just too much trouble

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Well, there's more information available about how to overcome problems, but then there are many more problems too..

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? 5-8 hours.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? I would if they worked the way they're supposed to. In theory it's great, and when everything's working it's fantastic, but that's just not often enough overall. For example, I love being able to monitor all my finances and pay bills online. But every! time! I sit down to do bills, somebody's website is down or creeping along slowly, or I'm locked out of one, or somebody has updated security features and I have to jump through new hoops, or it's time to change my password, etc... and it all ends up being less convenient and taking much longer than it should have. Just one example.

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TO RONALD FROM DONALD
Feb 18, 2011 12:37PM PST

dear ronald,i am donald from new delhi,india--a mindtrainer and graphonomist.i bought my first pc in 1999 and my kids did better than me on it. i bought my next pc in 2007 with a dial up connection.this time i had some friends to coach me and i learned fast.lots of problems--crashes,hang ups,network,reformatting,hard drives...but i was determined and learned to tackle them.next i bought my first laptop in sept 2008, a compaq.now i really needed this gizmo.i had to be reformatted about 4 times in one year as i did not have a legal OS or a legal anti-virus.i got stolen.
now i have a better DELL NP14,core i3 with legal windows 7 ultimate,3GB RAM,320GB HDD.i even bought a WD 500GB external 2.5 inch drive--it is not functioning and i dont know what to do with it.
i live with my geek friend and he helps me.but i still get foxed with my lappy--WHICH ANTI-VIRUS IS THE BEST? HOW TO TACKLE THE HANGUPS AND CRASHES? HOW TO KEEP THE NET (I HAVE BOTH HOME WIFI BROADBAND AND WIRELESS BROADBAND WHICH GIVES ABOUT 1 MPBS)? DO'S AND DONT'S? HOW TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE WONDERFUL NET WITHOUT GETTING SIDETRACKED AND WASTING TIME AND ENERGY? SHORTCUTS? WHICH REGISTRY CLEANERS TO USE AND HOW?(I HAVE LIKED THE ADVANCED SYSTEM CARE).SOME OF THE INSTRUCTIONS,LIKE THE NEW YAHOO TWEAKS,DOES NOT GIVE PROPER ADVICE,LIKE DUMMY STYLE,FOR NOVICES AND I FEEL AFRAID OF DOING THE WRONG THING--this is the major fear most novices face,they feel the machine would go mad!
you are absolutely right--THE COMPUTER IS STILL NOT A COSY FRIENDLY PERSON AND MAKES US DANCE AND TEAR OUR HAIR IN DESPAIR A LOT OF TIMES.your question made me share FIRST time on this very helpful CNET which has been my very good source of help and freewares.love from india.DONALD BAXTER
PS--after getting frustrated with IE and FIREFOX,i am very very happy with CHROME.

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Why Computers Difficult to Use
Feb 18, 2011 12:39PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? Yes in 1992

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Not quite

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Somehow, but engaged in wasting valuable time playing games and some funny things that I became addicted to.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Every upgrade requires considerable time to master. The upgrades keep coming as the software developers keep making money

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Trying to stick to only known programs

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Yes

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? Several hours after official hours

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now. Absolutely, but time is of essence to master most of the computing functionalities.

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Survey says
Feb 18, 2011 12:47PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? early 80's or late 70's

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Yes

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Straightforward.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Mastering linux.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Yes mircosoft pricing.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Easier yes the thank the internet for that.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? all day

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Without Increasing pervasiveness PC's . smart phones and OS's wouldn't evolve. So My answer is yes.

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Why are computers so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 1:02PM PST

Like a lot of other things we are told they are hard to use!! Which of course, we believe!!!WE do not read today!!!! Instant gratification is expected in a machine that only runs at the speed of light!! Read, Read and read some more!!! My biggest complaint is the need for all computers to work with voice commands and voice entry. Computers should have a built in hour meter for free service from the manufacturer for so many hours! Thanks...B

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Age-old question, isn't it?
Feb 18, 2011 1:08PM PST

I asked this question of the (at the time) new crop of Windowing GUIs being developed by the open source community back in 2000 (http://bidmyreno.com/portfolio/osgui.html) and there's still no answer to it.

Until more strict rules are created and followed when developing devices and software to work on PCs, we'll have conflicts and bugs.

While the complexity and requirements for new software continues to increase, software will continue to get more difficult to learn, will take more money and time to produce and likely will be more buggy.

As long as the paradigm is noun rather than verb-based, computing will always be hodge-podge experience.

BUT

I have to admit that the latest smart phones and tablet PCs hold promise for easier computing experiences.

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They're Not :-)
Feb 18, 2011 1:27PM PST

The very question is misleading. These days your car has a computer in it that is more sophisticated than any personal computer of the 1980s and early 1990s. It's not that hard to use. Neither are many cell phones, which also have computers in them. Specialty computers tend to be pretty easy to use (granted the car computer breaks, you need an expert, and special interfaces to figure it out.

I wrote my first computer program in the 1970s as a high school student. Teletype, 10 characters per second. Telephone modems, where a standard ma-bell phone receiver is shoved into a rubber cradle.

What makes computers "hard" to use is they are used for so many things. A personal computer, which may be the question, is a generalized all purpose, constantly morphing device with anyone writing software for that device and making it do things differently from competitors, to differentiate themselves.

I interact with computers on a typical day for 8-10 hours. Anything with practice becomes easy. Then I pick up a new program (say Adobe's InDesign Suite CS5) and say "What were they thinking!! This user interface sucks!" Adobe wants to be unique, they also want their premier software to have a high barrier because once you cross it, you don't want to switch and you can charge a premium for your knowledge. That is one reason for some software to be difficult.

To continue on the Adobe thought, the other reason it is hard (Mac or Windows) is that it is extremely flexible. Back to the main issue. If you want to be able to do everything and have control over it, then it is hard.

If you want easy, you go with limited flexibility which can add up to great design (Apple consumer products do well BECAUSE they are easy, but they are not flexible. The trade off is something "just working" as you expect it to, versus a general purpose device.

As a science fiction writer once said...computers don't make things easier...but they make things that were impossible to do before possible. DNA sequencing, statistical analysis on massive data sets, etc.

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computers, computers---------enough already!
Feb 18, 2011 1:50PM PST

Started with a Commodore 64 back in the '80s. Became almost religious about Apple computers. But wanted to do more than Apples could do, so went to Dell. Dell desktop got old and slow after about 6 years. Now have new 27" iMac and hate it! This is the third one, and it is almost as defective as the first two. I am anything but computer-savy. But I use the computer for a lot of creative stuff with photos, and writing. When something goes wrong, I am stuck. And things are always going wrong with this expensive piece of junk. When computers were simpler I was happier. I hope these comments help you out. Good Luck!

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Why are computers so hard to use?
Feb 18, 2011 1:53PM PST

Hi there!

Speaking as a person who is a Mechanical Engineer and therefore a not a computer groupie, it seems to me that a computer is designed to run on very strict and logical paths and criteria.

Unfortunately human beings have evolved to use such logic only up to a point. And in using a computer, a human has only a certain capability to analyze and navigate through an incredible amount of the necessary and inescapable computer logic.

Beyond that point the human cannot, without great difficulty, cope with the increasing complexity of computers and programs which attempt to deal with computer logic.

The bottom line is that computers will never really be "user friendly" unless they duplicate the human mind and its processes, life experiences and biases.

And I feel that cannot be done. You must deal with the situation as it is, and not as you would like it to be. Therefore, computers are not really "user friendly".

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Depends
Feb 18, 2011 2:20PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?

1984-89 when i joined the computer club at school Apple II's only apple computers i ever liked. Hated the IBM's. Then again in earnest in 2003 when they and isp's became cheaper.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?

yes this as always wasn't due to the technology but to the humans who helped me to learn how to use it from the older students at school to every one at cnet, you tube and in the online gaming, irc worlds and work colleagues all have helped me get to grips with any problem. take for instance next weeks question i have the same issue with my toshiba and look forward to the answers didn't realise anyone else had it.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?

No went from computers to sport then computers again. Challenges getting my friend using computers and now she try's to tell me what to do on them.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?

Software.
Facebook.
Teaching people how to use their computers to do what they want to do on them and what to do to fix some minor problems. Usually all they need to know is that they can do it and a area that they know for sure what they are doing as a comfort zone then they go beserk.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?

Don't get any software not reviewed by cnet. Never buy a microsoft product for at least a year.
Log into Facebook once every few months unless someone tells me to go there for something specific can't even tell me when they face to face sheesh whats with that.
Introduce newbies to cnet forums and you tube as aids. Still haven't got up the nerve to upgrade my old laptop yet but the cnet video makes it look so easy.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?

With knowledge everything is easier. It gets so i sometimes just turn everything off except the fan (its hot) and i read books spent more money on books than computer.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?

work 8 hours. mobile phone 2 hours those game apps are addictive. personal comp 4 hours usually takes at least an hour to check emails really got to unsubscribe some stuff.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?

Yes to Functionality. No to the pervasive. love the email story whether its true or not of the guy who owns a freight company when asked u don't have an email just imagine where u would be if u did and his reply cleaning toilets at microsoft LOL.

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Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 2:22PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
PC's, 1983; online timeshare, about 1968; first experience (brief) with main-frame, 1957.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Yes

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Modem speeds were a problem in the early days (1985); occasional system crashes

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Cost of commercial software keeps me behind the times.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Continue to use older software plus freeware.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Not much change, but the world has changed. In 1983, I didn't have any friends outside of work who I knew to have a computer. Same thing for being online (BBS's) in 1985. Now it's upside down: the "have nots" probably don't have many friends without some sort of computer or smart phone.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? Four or more.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Yes.

Good luck--hope this helps!

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Heavy computer users view
Feb 18, 2011 2:39PM PST

I have grown up with computers, beginning with paper tape input, holerith (spelling ?) cards this was in the 1960's. I have built (assembled) at least 6 PC towers, installed the operating systems... up thru Vista and Windows 7. And as an electrical engineer, I know roughly how and why they work like they do. I have done programming, and system analysis. I also gotten involved with desktop publishing especially early on with Apple systems. Now, being a golden ager, I am still very much involved and use the internet a lot for info, news communicating and data storage at all levels. At one point in my career I chose a computer over having a secretary.

I am experienced in product development and planning, and probably look at computers quite differently than a lot of students do.

As computers have progressed from major data base systems (IBM and the like) to small but powerful individual computers ... we now see that the notebook or laptop computer is gaining rapidly in both power and capability and portability. The world is now carrying a computer in their hands ... it is called a smart phone. Apple has introduced the iPad and caught the PC world by surprise at how quickly people are adopting their version of touch screen manipulating. Microsoft tried for many years to develop touch screen, but it has failed Apple is way ahead by providing both the operating system and the corresponding hardware. No one else is doing that. HP has finally grasp the concept and are trying to play catchup.

Why to people like Apple systems. Once the basics are understood, using the computer is EZ. They are consistent, powerful and handle graphics beautifully.

My person strength is in writing and communicating. I am a fluent writer and I spend many hours each day on a computer.

We no longer have a land line. So our phones are cell phones. My next computers will be a powerful MacBook Air for general computing and interfacing with flash drives, harddrives for backup and massive data access, and portability... we like to travel. I don't need a tower any more. I am not a gamer. I am buying my wife an iPad, but I am waiting for the next version this spring (april). I will not buy another pc. I have several, and I see no advantage to updating. I am using a laptop that is four years old with Windows XP. I works well. I know how to handle virus issues. I don't have shut down and system failures.

You ask do I appreciate the extended functionalit and increasing pervasiveness of computing now. I follow the latest developments in the key building blocks ... processors, memory, system buses, storage systems and mutitasking and graphics, particularly photo and video with sound.

I blog, not with the idea of sharing at the facebook level ... in fact I will not use Facebook or the other social networks. But I communicate with special groups and individuals daily.

As for copying, the world is going digital. Book readers will replace the typical printed book for students. The iPad is the classic favorite. All the other touch screen computer offerings are vaporware. They simply don't exist except as talked about by the media monguls. Sure there is Kindle, Nook and Sony for book readers, but they are single function, and very slow. FAX is rapidly being replaced by PDF as a file system. I hardly use a printer ... I have three. I have a scanner ... a very good Epson ... I haven't turned it on in almost a year. Nearly all my action is via the internet. Yet I still don't bank on line. I am close, but fearful of theft. I know enough to be dangerous. I have consulting friends who are experts in banking security.
When you see kindergarten students sitting in computer labs ... teachers using smart board (vs. chalk boards) ... when school principals communicate with teachers via e-mail. you see that the pervasiveness is rapidly spreading everywhere. Just ask the question who doesn't have a cell phone.

As far as looking back do I think the challenges I faced are any easier now ... certainly. The computer today are sophisticated. With Apple systems, I don't have to get so involved with the operating system, it just takes care of itself... not so with Microsoft systems. I am geeky, but I am a user and I do keep up-to-date with what is going on. I don't text. I have done VOIP.

The only challenge I have now is living within our retirement funds, and I don't spend a lot on computers while the ones I have are working.

I hope this helps you a bit. I am just one voice among the millions.

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Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 2:49PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
*~1985 was for gaming mainly.. but I started actual using at 1998.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
* Very.. I am very passionate when it comes to computers/IT issues.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
*Yes it was straightforward, some issues i had was troubleshooting and solving the problem.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
*Very minor.. working around win xp, vista and 7, and working with Office 2003-2010.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
*Explore, try new things with your PC.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
*Much easier.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
*Most of the day.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
*Yes, but we need more.. a lot more.

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When They Work, They Work Great...
Feb 18, 2011 2:51PM PST

But they're a royal pain when they stall, chug-on, etc....

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
I used them briefly to play games but I purposely didn't take any computer classes in school because during the mid-70's, all we had was Fortran and Cobol. So I knew even then that whatever I learned would be obsolete in a few months.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
For the most part, yes. I basically learned on the job or used them at the library and experimented.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Yes, but it was not without challenges. When I hooked-up my own computer for the first time, it was tough figuring-out the browser because the address bar was hidden. It was then that I discovered "When in doubt, right-click".

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Not really. You'll know you've arrived when you're in a position to help other people.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Outside of shouting at the progress bar? No.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
Sure, there's no substitute for experience, especially when you discover solutions on your own.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
At least 10 hours. Less if it's other than work time.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Yes, but so far I'm able to do without G-4 phones at least....

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loaded question
Feb 18, 2011 3:28PM PST

This is a loaded question. You start from a premise and then ask why? I am going to answer your questions and maybe you will learn something.

Can I remember when I first started using computers?
Yes! I cannot remember the date, but I can remember the computer and my interaction with it. It was an IBM 360/370. My interaction with it was to write programming instructions on a code sheet for a computer punch machine operator. She typed in the instructions, in COBOL or assembly language. I got a deck of punch cards and took those cards to a reader, put them in and some time later, I got the result.

Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?

The process was easy. Everyone in the class understood the process. Figuring out how to do answer the question in COBOL or assembly language depended on the abilities of the person.

Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?

I do not really understand this question. To me the computer is a device. It is not an end in itself. In terms of the vehicle, my challenges were dissecting the DOS operating system, though I do not think this is relevant to your question.

Do you have any challenges even now?

Absolutely! You are not asking the right question.

Did you/do you have any coping strategies?

Yes, I do. My coping strategy is that I am not the problem! Again, this is not a good question.

Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
Look, one of the challenges I faced was to write assembly language to handle a non standard serial chip. This in not a challenge I face today.

On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?

I turn my computers on when I wake and I turn them on when I retire.

Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
Yes!

I am troubled that I spent so much time answering a stupid question. The question you should have posed is what can be done to make computers easier to use.

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Survey
Feb 18, 2011 3:54PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
About 1990

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
It became easier when I migrated from Atari and MS-DOS to Windows

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Not always. The main challenge was to get to grips (to an extent) with Linux-based OS. The other, was to replace parts in my laptop (fan, keyboard).

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Generally, in relation to new software

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
Yes, following tutorials or handbooks; spending many hours experimenting

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
A bit, as I have become more knowledgeable

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
Around 10 hours, sometimes more.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
I do, since as any tool it come make many things easier and open up new possibilities, but I do not think that there are exactly friendly for most people, only for those who are prepared to put in the time to master their use

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Good luck drawing conclusions!
Feb 18, 2011 4:07PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? Yes, 1965 with mainframes & punch cards

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Yes, I was interested in computers before I spelled the word correctly. I've always found them intuitive.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Very straightforward. Biggest challenges were buggy or inadequate software.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Yes, finding software that does what I want, how I want.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Patience, I guess.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Mostly machines and software are better so results are better, faster, etc. Anything challenging is less so now as a result.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? 3-5 hours.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Yes, very much. Using them and how you use them is still a choice, at least outside your job, and under your control. They enrich life and make many things easy that were hard or impossible before.

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Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 4:41PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?

1961 at University, using Zuse computers and mostly assembler and Algol60 following lectures of president of IBM Germany

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?

yes because curiosity and novelty were cosmic high

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?

passing (as usual) through many sections of "data" processing" like first "high" speed (64kb/s)teleprocessing, real time operating systems in nuclear data processing, simulation of spacecraft operations, IT based project management.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?

as retired person handling a few home-based computers in a network, keeping pace with the new developments and getting ride of curiosity-wise installed but unnecessary/non-sense SW

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
trial and error, in worst case read the guidelines

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
yes because technology has advanced and one can find applications for most situations and tasks

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
as pensioneer still ca. 3 hours per day

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
yes in most areas, but not if "THE COMOUTER" has done it wrong or is used as excuses

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The easier they become, the less you can truly interact
Feb 18, 2011 4:41PM PST

I've been using computers since the 1980s and MS DOS on 512k PCs. It was moderately difficult to start then, but not difficult to have a total mastery of the OS in a month or so. Nowadays the learning curve goes on for ever!
Each time the OS has changed it has presented major hurdles. I hated Windows initially and spent a lot of time trying to use things like Visual Basic for DOS instead! Then I grew to love Windows 3.1 (which I still do) and resent later developments.
I still use Windows XP in preference to anything newer.
My experience with Vista was terrible and I never got it to work without every process running slowly and repeated hangs, even though I worked through every 'tweak' I could find on the Internet for several days. In the end I installed XP on this new desktop and then had a huge challenge finding all the necessary drivers and installing them for an entire weekend. That was a challenge which the average user just couldn't undertake.
I still have challenges especially when Microsoft takes over and downloads and installs updates which cause system problems and then take loads of research to put right. Too many basic ways of working are hidden by 'Nanny Microsoft' as they fear people changing system parameters. Yet in most cases it just makes the system more difficult to use not less.
I use computers for at least two hours each day, probably nearer to three.
I appreciate the extended functionality of computers in general but the tendency has been for more and more software to become unnecessarily complex. For example, I still use an ancient version of Paintshop Pro from Windows 3.1 as it does everything I need. Yet most people have the latest Photoshop installed even though they rarely use more than a tiny fraction of the things the program allows you to use. Why anyone needs 'Word' in its current complexity when most daily tasks are word processing you could probably do in Notepad.
All computers in future should be sold with a switchable interface between an absolutely basic version of operating system and software, and the more advanced version. The most user friendly system I ever used was Windows CE with its cutdown software.
Why do I have to download updates to half a dozen programs every single week as they become more and more and more complex and likely to go wrong.

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Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 4:46PM PST

The simple answer to your question is "because they are complex devices". How well can you use a wood carving chisel? That's a really simple device, but using it well still takes a great deal of practice and skill. Why should a computer be any different, particularly given that it is vastly more complex?

Can you remember when you started using computers?
1967
-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
No - but that long ago it was all different! You had to program it to use it at all!
-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
More or less, but how long do I have to describe the challenges???
-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Yes, the vastness of the options available in, say Word, or Powerpoint means that after all these years I know there is a lot I don't know!
-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
Yes, concentrate on using well what you know. When working avoid being distracted by all the interesting things you don't really need to know or use - "KISS" strategy!
-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
Compared with 1967 - vastly! You can do something useful immediately!
-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
4-6 hourss
-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
yes

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...No longer difficult to use, yet incomprehensible to many
Feb 18, 2011 5:35PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
-Yes, I started to work with IBM (DOS, OS2) in 1985

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
-No, dreadful experience, I was thrown into a very responsible dataprocessing business w/o. formal training and had to go through it by trail and error, the worst case scenario for learning anything

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
-following gradual straightforward journey to present

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
-to cope with everlasting upgrades of applications, especially Microsoft

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
-no specific strategies, just learning darn thing whenever necessary

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
-yes, it is easier now

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
-four plus hours on daily basis

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
-yes,
one final comment:
I am not in a habit of using computers for entertainment; offline/online (downloading music, games, youtube, twitter, facebook) and/or any other so called socializing media.
I have no time to waste, no desire to participate in herd impulses, and
I have noticed that many users of these "social media", especially young ones, know next to nothing about inner (theoretical) principles and workings of computing.
Something like with cars, you learn to drive it, but you do not have any idea what's going on under the hut. So, too many users nowadays "drive" their computers very poorly.

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why are computres still so difficult to use
Feb 18, 2011 6:33PM PST

2001
no
First time I came across virus and had to forgo all files saved
yes have to update my knowledge regarding everything
Strategies are nothing just take help from some known person
yeah those which were challenges are nothing now and I am able to give some advices to other people also
up to 10 to 12 hours
definitely yes now a days computers are more user friendly and most of our doubts questions are answered in the net itself

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My Experiences of Computers
Feb 18, 2011 6:43PM PST

Dear Ronald,

My experiences are rather weird, so I'll try to track them as closely as possible to your questions, but they'll get a bit messy at times.

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? Yes, at school in the 1st year 6th form, in 1964 before Algol even had a number. I remember being shown core store and even mercury delay tubes!

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
Not immediately. I have very little mathematics skills while being fine with both arithmatic and logic. I have the story of my first ever computer program, which takes about 15 minutes to tell, wading through seven paper tape passes, a teleprinter operator and so on to the punchline: "error on line 1, error on line2...".


-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?

Within 5 years, by dint of actually *using* a computer for a purpose, I had become fairly happy programming in an ICL language called "JEAN", and began to learn about biological statistics. I was quite keen to go further with computers and programming, and in 1970 actually started the first year of a BCS membership course. My non-existent maths proved my downfall and I went no further at this time. When a small program was needed or assistance with data input, I helped and have even a few mentions in scientific papers for the help and support I gave at this time (working as a technician in research entomology then in radiation protection in a University). In 1976 I started my BSc course as a mature student and did a fair bit of programming, mostly in BASIC. After finishing, I got into the deepest levels of programming I have ever reached. BBC microcomputers were being widely used and steadily more linked together. I got fascinated by them and also got into Assembler/Machine Code/Hex prgramming of an in-house built gamma spectrometer built around a 6800 D2 board. At the ned of my time working at The City of London Polytechnic in 1987, I moved to Denmark for 4.5 years, and right at the end of this time assisted Vejle Hospital (where I was working as a trainee hopital physicist - despite my maths!! - ) by debugging an interface programming in 6800 Hex.


-- Do you have any challenges even now?

I moved up to being Radiation Protection Adviser in a University on my return from Denmark. I'd largely missed the beginning of the PC revolution, and now there was no time to make up for lost time. At this level the computer is simply a tool, and programming it a distant memory. So I have never got to grips with modern programming as I wish to do - there's simply never enough time.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?

Not really. If mathematical skills are needed and the project is interesting, University Mathematicians are often keen to help. I moved more to systems design than actual programming. I always use flow-charting to inform my laying out of a problem, in part because I think in many dimensions, and flowcharting allows you to leave a link to come back to.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?

I can't posibly say. Everyone is much more used to the idea of computers so many of the misunderstandings I had will not cause any problems, but I think there are plenty more out there - many of which I'm unaware of.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?

50 - 70%

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?

Yes and it's fun too!

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Mainly because of Microsoft?
Feb 18, 2011 6:47PM PST

Hi Ronald, my first computer & experience, an Amiga 1200, was about 18 years ago when I joined a local comp. club, what I didn't know they were Amiga freaks! So I joined & became one. Although it was difficult to get to grips with 'computing' with the others help I became proficient after about 450 hours of 'clubbing' plus practice at home. I thought compared to other learning curves, for instance how to repair an engine, on a scale of 1 easy - 10 hard, the computer was 7 the motor 5.
Regarding challenges then a few, now many but mainly because of Microsoft. I have 2 comps, one with W7 other XP 32. Previously after my Amiga I have had all Microsoft operating systems 32 & 64 bit except Vista. I can't understand how they manage to maybe improve some features but also wreck others when upgrading software. Apart from that, sometimes I spend more time downloading patches, often it appears the same ones over again & again than anything else, & surely I am not the only one to have switched on one day find to find strange things?
On a typical day...........4 hours.
But no more or less challenging today than yesterday!

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Are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 7:21PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? In 1972 on NCR 315 mainframes with 10K and 20K core memory, CRAM (Card Random Access Memory) not disks and hughe banks of lights on the operation consoles.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Once familiar - yes but a lot of hard work and memorising nevertheless.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? I eventually became Computer Manager with my own staff and machine before PC's become prevalent. Learning about PC's in the early 80's on MSDOS and v.heavy luggables.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Yes, continuously updating several web sites, learning Java

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Read, read and lots of thinking.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? In the 90's the challenge was keeping abreast of the continual changes being made by Microsoft to the windows support liraries, especially the changing word basic bewteen each release of MS Word and each update to windows. This was a nightmare; what once worked, then stopped without code changes because the word language was changed by an update.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? 3-5 hours

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Yes, but I often think it is so pervasive that we forget to do things by hand. When we should be keeping things paper (for ease) we always now keep them on computer. Then it crashes and we find we haven't done the basics of maintaining a regular backup! Paper is some times easier. What I find awesome is the accepted amount of storage immediately available. I started with mainframes having 10 or 20k of memory 19" square per 1k block. Then on a 1GB database which was one of the largest inn Europe at the time, and today mobile phones with a couple of GB on board. The building housing the mainframe machine cost

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Interesting Subject
Feb 18, 2011 7:51PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? A: ~1980 both on the Xerox Star system at work and then my own CPM-based PC.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? A: Mostly yes because I was fairly enthusiastic about it.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? A: Getting answers to OS or hardware or modem issues and then actually fixing them. Dealing with support people who knew even less than I did or just didn't 'get it'. None of it was straightforward.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? A: Mostly work related and not so much at home. The biggest challenge is in keeping the viruses and such at bay.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? A: Vodka on the rocks, with a twist.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? A: Yes only because I've spent years building a foundation of knowledge. Also Windows 7 seems to be alot more stable than it's predecessors. I still prefer OS/X though.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? A: Pretty much all day. If you include the microprocessors found in everyday things such as TV's and smart phones then except for sleep it's 24/7.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? A: On the occasions that computing makes my life easier then the answer is yes, otherwise I'd be happy to go back to pre-1980.

My life with computers has largely centered around their use in printing; print servers, networks, controllers, desktop publishing apps etc. My initial exposure to the desktop GUI was pre-IBM PC or Mac although I also eventually gained enough command line experience to be useful (and dangerous). Software's come a long way and I'd say that for the average user it's much easier than it's ever been because much more of the 'under the hood' stuff is hidden. The internet has been a huge factor as well. But even on my Mac I'll go into terminal mode sometimes just because it's easier.

I think that if you took a look at the history of computers and how they've evolved bit by bit over the years as well as the economics you'd have a greater understanding. Profit and market factors have had a huge influence on the ebb and flow of 'ease of use' as much as great ideas have.

In the end it's all subjective too. What comes easily for some folks drives others nuts.

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In Reply to: Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 7:59PM PST

#1) Absolutely, I'll never forget it. It was a 1979&1/2 Pontiac Lemans and Gm decided to make a midyear change and put a computer onboard to run the engine management system. I worked at a GM dealer near Philadelphia and I was the first mechanic to be given a customer's car that came in for service with a "Check Engine Light" on.

No one in the dealership had any idea what that was let alone what might cause it so I took the service manual home with me and read the entire thing. The next morning, I came in, found a single wire dangling near the right kick panel and I used a jumper wire to ground it. The "Check Engine Light' started flashing and I quickly checked the notes I had made and went to the parts counter and asked them to get me an Oxygen sensor. They didn't know what that was but the parts manager was able to locate one for me and when I got it, I replaced the one in the car with the new one, disconnected the battery for 10 seconds, and the "Check Engine Light" problem was gone. Needless to say, customer was very happy.

#2) Actually yes, electricity is very logical, unlike people.

#3) It's like it is always a challenge to see if you can figure out how something works and what makes it stop working. But I enjoy the challenge.

#4) I started off lazy, figuring I was doing enough with computers but I eventually bought my kid one of those Commodore 64s. But I was intrigued and I started watching him and started to become more curious myself. Then one day my brother-in-law gave me an old 8088 and a 3&1/2 floppy disc with MSDOS on it. From there, I was like a kid in a candy store.

#5) The software at the time seemed rather crude but I found a book on programming in GW-Basic and before long, I wrote all my own software. I went to Quick-Basic and then dabbled in Quick-C and eventually Visual-Basic 6.0 The computer I am typing on right now is the very first computer I ever bought brand new. It's an HP laptop. Until I bought this last May, I built every computer I had, usually one every few years. Today, I use very few of my own programs because software has come so far that it is next to impossible to keep up with. It can be frustrating but it's also fun to learn new ways to do things.

#6) Some things they make easy and some things they make much harder.

#7) I still work on them in cars 8 hours a day. I specialize in the problems that get towed to me from other repair facilities. I try to limit my use of the computer at home to a couple hours so maybe 10 hours a day.

#Cool I think computers have basically taken over our lives. Just like that damn Texas Instruments calculator that made kids stop learning their times-tables, computers make us lazy. Now people can't even drive anywhere without them. But they certainly have their advantages. I am beginning to wonder how close we are coming to the day when computers are smarter than us and we become slaves to them.

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Jevons paradox
Feb 18, 2011 8:20PM PST

Just as increased energy efficiency is consumed by expanding use (e.g., modern 'energy star' refrigerators are much larger than the inefficient models we had several years ago; vehicles get bigger, not more mileage-efficient), the Jevons paradox applies to some (not all) computing environments: more ram, larger and faster drives, 27-inch monitors mean that we task our computers with more demands, resulting in a kind of stasis in complexity.

But not all computers. There is a universe of very simple to use computers expanding right now, at an exponential rate. I am referring to ipods, ipod touches, iphones and ipads from apple, and the exploding panoply of android, palm and hp devices. My 4G Android 'phone' can hardly be considered a phone - it's a computer, which performs an amazing variety of computer tasks, many of them on a single touch or even voice command. The ipad, initially thought to have an initial market of 4 million, has blown past 40 million, and the growth curve hasn't even begun to flatten out.

So two forces at play: Jevons paradox applies to computers used in corporate, scientific, engineering and design/creative environments. And the hoped for simplicity you refer to is, a bit late, just arriving now!