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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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I think the question is subjective in nature!
Feb 18, 2011 8:11PM PST

I started using them when they first arrived in the UK, my firts PC was an Amstrad with a 4" floppy drive.

I seem to remember a learning phase very akin to learning a new language,

I found it sincerely challenging to get to grips with windows programming and all of the ".del autoexecbat. list *.* " etc. it just wasn't intuitive at the time.

1995 I took the decision to dump windows completely and get a mac.

2000 I took the decision to change everyone in my offices to mac, some of them kicking and screaming! It was one of the best business decisions of my life. I never needed techi guys, IT support, or constant IT staff in house ever again.

I work 8 hours a day on my mac, and cannot be separated from my iphone, laptop or iPad.

In terms of pervasiveness... I think people miss the point; for example, I carry my iPhone for MY convenience, NOT the convenience of others; therefore I will answer a call IF I want to, I answer e-mails at my own pace when I want to, NOT immediately I receive them. I think society now feels that due to increased communication and access to computer or cell phone based technology, we all suddenly become legally obliged to answer our phone, or immediately reply to an e-mail. Very often I hear the complaint "but I left you a message" or "I sent you an e-mail". Wromg, I bought the devices for MY convenience, not for others'.

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Why are computers still so difficult
Feb 18, 2011 8:13PM PST

1.) 1973 Punch Cards
2.) It was actually funny
3.) There have always been challenges. Buggy software, 640K memory limit, Vista..it never ends. PCs have been around for 30 years and are still difficult to use.
4.) Always..
5.) No choice but to plow through
6.) No. Software and hardware companies still produce products that are not very intuitive. As someone said smartphones may be closer to intuitive devices.
7.) 3-5 hours
8.) Why? Have they improved the copy and paste and spel chek functionality?

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Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 18, 2011 8:19PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
Yes, 1958 on the Manchester University Atlas
-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
Fairly
-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Yes, pretty straightforward.
-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Coping with badly written software and clumsy GUI.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
No, just pains and perseverance.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
No.
-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
2-3 hours.
-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
In spite of what I have said above, yes I do.

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reader survery response
Feb 18, 2011 9:10PM PST

Can you remember when you started using computers?
1985

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

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
I taught animation on Macs from 1999 to 2003. I came to deeply dislike Macs. For me, PC's are much more preferable. The one exception being PC's notoriously poor Indian tech support. I find myself having to ask them repeat everything 3 or 4 times and to add insult to injury they generally can not answer or assist with the issue.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? occassionally

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? search the internet for answers

-- 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? 5 to 6 hours daily

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

yes....I purchase a state of the art laptop each summer and they continue to improve in almost all areas.

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Are they?
Feb 18, 2011 9:27PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
Early 80s - Sinclair ZX81 then Spectrum.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
No, but great fun.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Fairly straightforward since moving to PC - mainly for work word-processing and hobby photography. In the earlier days the challenge was to get to know both MS-DOS and Windows to be able to have proper control of everything.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Mainly those to do with finding where and how to do familiar actions with every new upgrade to the operating system and the software.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
I am very pleased that Windows 7 is much more friendly in allowing me to use my older versions of software with which I am familiar.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
Yes, but mainly due to the benefit of 30 years experience - it must still be challenging for new users.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
3-4 hours.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
Yes. But I sometimes wonder and worry what will happen to our society if a major disaster renders all these systems useless.

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Reply
Feb 18, 2011 9:46PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? I can remember when my job required that I start using computers. I was a graphic designer in a medical school and I came in one day and saw that my Compugraphics had been replaced by a desktop computer (don't remember the name). Anyway, I quit, went back to school and got a degree in tv production. Three years later, I decided to go back into the graphics business and purchased a Macintosh (it looked like a little box with a window in it). In 1992, I got a job as a Marketing Specialist. I lied and told them I could use a computer. They sat me down in front of one my first day! Luckily, I was blessed with a wonderful assistant who helped me learn how to use it and now, I am very proficient with it.


-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? It was very tough at first, but I forced myself to learn. Going from the drafting table to a computer was like going from riding a horse to driving a bus.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Recovering from crashes, learning graphics software, backing up files, learning how to use the internet effectively.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Every day is a challenge! Learning how to create web pages is my newest challenge. Keeping up with the changing technologies and multi-media formats that are available.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Just suck it up and do it! I also like to bang my mouse on my desk and curse the computer when things get particularly difficult.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Oh God yes! I can tear my computer down, put it back together, do upgrades, reformat, help my friends and family when they need help, and knowing where to get answers when something goes wrong.


-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? Usually 10-12 during my busy season (I'm a graphic designer specializing in ads and publications).

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? I got an email from my uncle that was sent from his computer. It was a video of him just staring at the computer. He didn't mean to send it. I hate having to download security and virus updates constantly and don't understand why PC's still have way more problems than Mac's. But the good that computers do far outweighs the bad. It's an invaluable tool and I would never give it up.

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Why Are Computers So Difficult To Use
Feb 18, 2011 9:46PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? -- I started with the Commodore 64. It was my first purchase.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? -- I am not sure what you are asking for with this question. But if you are asking if it was easy for me to use the computer, the answer is YES. I love to tinker with them.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? -- Apple and Microsoft operating systems made things easier and more complicated. The toughest thing is how fast the hardware/software becomes obsolete.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? -- Paying to play (i.e. keeping up with software, especially antivirus, spyware, etc.).

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? -- Yes, I keep spare computer components and use freeware whenever possible. I download all firmware/software updates and maintain copies until I get rid of the PC.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? -- Yes, you can always find on-line help for just about anything related to computers in general or your specific model.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? -- 5+ hrs/day.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? -- Yes, the computer has made a lot of things better, however you have to take the good with the bad.

I don't think the computer itself is that difficult to use. The problem is user education and in all the varied software/hardware, changing interfaces, difficulty with viruses/spyware/malware and compatiability issues. When I set up a computer for someone and take them through accessing the Internet, burning MP3 music and other basic uses, they don't have problems until they get a virus infection (they let the virus protection subscription expire) or have to update firmware/software (they accidently turned of the auto update or the software does not perform auto-updates).

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Poll Response.
Feb 18, 2011 10:01PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
About '79 I was introduced to a mini (not a netbook). But, I really began in about 1983 as I encouraged my mother, the bookkeeper, to use a PC for her work. It was CPM based.

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

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Convincing people PC's were good. Getting a user-friendly screen. They really still don't exist (except for iPads). Sometimes I think a DOS based, menu is still good for preventing mistakes.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Yes. Keeping malware away.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
Not really. As technology changes, the problems change. As do the responses. I have come to truly loathe Windows. My response to helping friends -- "I am sorry. I just don't keep up with that particular technology."

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
Not really. In fact, they are somewhat more difficult;depending on the user and interface. Kids still adapt well.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
Including my PC,iPad, Kindle, Blackberry, Sonos remote, and new Logitech Entertainment remote control? About 18.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
Yes. Just look at Logitech's approach to controlling TV's DVD players, etc. Look at what I call the "App" revolution.

Good luck on your project.

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Difficult???
Feb 18, 2011 10:01PM PST

In 1983 I had my first personal experience with PCs. As nobody I knew seemed to be savvy enough about them to give me up-front info, so I just jumped into things myself. By reading computer-focused mags and gleaning as much as I could from PC users here and there I mastered the machine. Difficult? No. Fun? Yes. It's nice to know things before everyone else has a clue.
I run a small secretarial service, so I'm at my computer 6 or more hours a day.
One of the things that annoy me is the over-engineering of software. Some of which is so over-engineered that I keep the older version active even tho I have installed the newer one.
I love everything about computers, particularly the availability of information and I am following closely the political changes being brought about by computers in the Middle East. Cheers to all those innovative thinkers! It's not pervasive, it's wonderful.
I'm looking forward to what is going to happen in the world of computers in the coming years.
Sandra

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Just because...
Feb 18, 2011 10:29PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
1983. I had a BASIC computing class in college. I had a very difficult time wrapping my brain around BASIC. I still remember spending hours in the computer lab trying to program the computer to print an American flag. It would get part way and stop, displaying "Syntax error on line xyz". I'd fix that error, and start the whole fingernail pulling process over. I hated computers, and didn't touch another one until 2000 when I bought a Dell Dimension 4100, which I'm typing on right now. I never took a class on Windows (it came with ME, which sucked big time). Between Dell's then excellent tech support, the DellTalk Forum, Cnet's forums, I was able to teach myself enough to make it work.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
Yes and no. I think computers present themselves as such an awesome tool, which they are, until something doesn't work right. As someone said, they work great until they don't. Windows Millennium used to crash all the time on me. but XP is MUCH better. Now I'm learning 7, which is like three steps forward and one step back. I still struggle at times, but I think I learned enough over the years that I kind of learned how to learn.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Sometimes. A lot of things do, for the most part, work great. But I'll put in another vote for all the programs that we all need to use to do something with the computer (Word, Photoshop, etc) are the greatest challenge. The computer is such a deeply complicated tool that there is just a lot to know, and I think the people who write programs are more concerned with what features they can add than how easy it is to use them. Sometimes I just don't bother buying a program that promises to make my life better because I know learning it won't make my life easier, and I don't have the time.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Yes, see previous answer.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
Ask people on forums. I read as much as I can understand, but I have a lot of difficulty learning things from a manual or Help file that comes with a program, so it's invaluable to get help from someone who understands the program.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
Some are. Installing devices I think is a lot easier than it used to be (though not problem-free). I spend a lot less time fixing Windows or worrying I'll screw up my OS than I used to. However, I find that newer versions of programs need a LOT of work on the functionality, not just adding of features I won't use.

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

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

I can do a heck of a lot more, but it also uses up more time to learn the new stuff.

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Fun topic bringing back memories
Feb 18, 2011 10:58PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? 1981-82.

My first computer, the Bondwell-12 was a "luggable" portable computer weighing some 20 lbs (9 kg) with a built-in 9 inch (23 cm) monochrome CRT display, equipped with 64 kiB of internal memory, CP/M 2.2 and two single-sided, double density, 5.25 inch floppy disk drives (180 kiB). The OS was in fact the predecessor of MS-Dos where a lot of command syntax is derived from CP/M (CP/M stands for Control Program Monitor) and the first widely used word processor program was WordStar, written for CP/M along with dBASE, an early and popular database program for small computers .

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Yes and No.

Like all new things in life it was a matter to get the grip at it. Like learning to drive a shift-gear car for example. A interesting aspect is that in the early days one was writing commands at the core. To copy a file one had to input the command line. Nowadays computer use is based on window dressing of the core language. I.e., to copy one clicks on an Icon saying "Copy" and then "Paste" (or Ctrl +C and Ctrl +V keys) and the command lines are generated in the back. In the first days of computer, one had to write the whole command line in the screen.

For example in CP/M the copy command line was:

PIP <destination filename> <source filename>

As you notice one first had to address the 'destination' file name before stating the 'source' file.

When DOS took over, the user interface was a bit more friendly and logical. The copy command, still to be fully typed in the screen became more intuitive:

COPY <source filename> <destination filename>

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

I explained the challenge above where after getting use to the CP/M language, one suddenly had to learn the new DOS language which became the standard. Today, no matter what is changing, all is translated through pictures or Icons. The WYSIWYG approach. Like in my analogy with cars. Today the most difficult thing in car driving is to make sure one does not forget to fill the gas tank in time, like for computers to charge the batteries again. For the rest the car starts even without an ignition key and soon will drive you from A to B without steering as for the PC and its software which react at verbal commands.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?

Yes, the changes in commands in processor's newer versions like in software programs updates are not often logical. The worse is that to do the same one has to find the commands at new places under other drop-down lists, not always intuitively better located.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Coping is too strong a word if you ask me. I can get annoyed at the most.

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

Interestingly enough the challenges are the same with the difference that in the solving of problems around the PC processor, the solution often lies in the reading/writing of the Command Prompt screen. My early PC experiences of command line writing help. Some of my friends who joined the PC world later still don't get it.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
6 hours as my activities as a financial and management consultant are developed around the use of computers, its software and communication.

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

Let's face it. It was fun to 'know how' in the olden days but nowadays technology lets you achieve so much more in much less time. Hence adding efficiency to work. It is not important to know how it works as long as it does what one expects it to do. Yes I appreciate.

Good luck Ronald. Cheers

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Not so good research question
Feb 18, 2011 11:23PM PST

I don't like the research question, it have an assumption that computer difficult to use and that means:
1. Your research and conclusion are biased, you are only collecting negative responses.
2. You will have a difficult time if you find opposing conclusions.

There is a great phrase: When you got a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

So if you got this kind of question, you will probably find biased responses and write biased questions.

My recommended research question:
Are computers are difficult to use? if so why?
You didn't specify about what computers you are talking about? Personal? main frame? calculators?

I also highly recommend consulting with instructor/professor about your research question and methodology.

I am also a BA students, i had my share of headache from proffers about how to write research questions.

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My computing experience
Feb 18, 2011 11:46PM PST

1. Started using computers in early 1990's at work, then got home computer (Compaq) running Windows 99 in 1999(I think).
2. With Windows, it is never easy. Microsoft explains problem resolutions in a high, technical language that scares you. Get help from a real human either toe-toe or online. This is why I subscribe to CNET.
3. As mentioned above, MS Windows is not the way to go for straightforward computing. It never has been for me or any IT professional I know.
4.I still have problems with Windows & expect it will always be that way, mainly because of protection & security-that is the #1 defense against Windows problems, I believe. KEEP THE BUGS OUT! And you can do a good job of it for FREE!
5.My coping strategies are: I plan to buy a MAC for my next laptop-they are so easy. Consider using Linux instead of Windows,Don't be afraid & if you are, don't touch anything until you are calm & have time to work on it, use CNET or google your problem, take into consideration the age of your computer-when my computer gets old,I find I need a $30 registry cleaner to keep it running and prolong its life.
6. It's only easier because I learned not to be afraid but I still get very frustrated because it takes time to figure it out.
7. I interact with computers about 10 hours a day, 5 days a week. The other 2 days, I am "human".
8. I live in the country, so it's mixed for me. I like that I can do things for free or inexpensively on my computer like communicate with family & watch movies, but I don't feel the need to be tied down with a phone to keep in constant contact & my job doesn't require that either. I feel if I lived in a big city, or much younger, it would be different no matter where I lived.
Good luck with your education goals & thanks for the questions; answering them was catharticSilly

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Computer use history
Feb 18, 2011 11:48PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?

I began with data processing in high school, in 1960. My dad worked with 2nd generation computers and I helped him. I edged into computers while putting myself through school doing keypunching (old punched cards for those who don't know the term). I learned much about the logic of programming using the big mainframe on campus. Did NOT take computer related courses. Just learned more and more. Began doing word processing in the early years and writing macros taught me more about programming. Began using my brother's Apple II to play games in the 70's. Migrated to PCs in early 80's. Spent the rest of my life doing many jobs that fell between the cracks of programming and novices to computing. Obviously a non-standard path.

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

In a way, yes. My dad's comfort with computing made me just take it for granted. I migrated easily to computers as they became more wide spread.

In a way, no. My very non-standard work history made it difficult to fit into usual job descriptions. Branched into telephony and voice processing for a while.

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

Not at all. see above. I'm not really a hacker type. I understood the basic working of computers to begin with, I could do Basic and other programming. But my style of learning is to read manuals cover to cover and then when I'm using the program, I know roughly where to look for help. Over the years, manuals have gotten worse and worse - some are so badly written it is amazing anyone would publish them. When object-oriented programming came in, I sort of hit a wall. Could never really get my mind around it. Couldn't get my mind to translate from the old programming styles to the new one. So I got stuck. Eventually, too many years of using computers too many hours a day did me in: I had to take early retirement due to major repetitive strain injuries from my neck down both shoulders and to my hands.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?

Yes. I use computers for fun and my hands pay a price in pain if I lose track of time. I can't really afford some of the newer gadgets and am getting old enough that I'm not really trying to fit into the younger world of social networking - I can't see the point.

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

To be blunt, mostly addictive behaviors. I couldn't figure how to fit into the "normal" computing world and bosses didn't really know what to do with me, though they knew I knew a lot and was very bright. I fell into doing work that demanded little commitment, paid the bills and focused my life on getting out of the more self-destructive patterns.

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

No. Perhaps the fact that kids are now growing up with computers means that those who really want to dig into their guts self-select early. It is so much a part of life now. I still think there are serious difficulties with the writing of manuals and help materials. There is too much variability in what programs do - or how they do it. Don't know if things will ever go the route of cars, the standardizing of the basic operations. Simple to use computers need to come out of the classroom and AARP magazines. I have to accept, tho, that my mathematical and logical ability made it easy for me to use computers in the days when it seemed impossible to most. The problems today are ones I can't fix and tech support is so poor and so expensive that I frequently think about becoming a Luddite. At the least, of throwing my computer in the trash. I worry that kids are becoming technically competent at the cost of little breadth of humanity. I hope I'm wrong.

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

2-4 hours, spread over the day.

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

In many ways I do. Much of that is fun. But I dislike intensely the difficult of finding solutions to problems. And I am deeply concerned that the increased functionality has resulted in loss of jobs without a parallel shift in the culture to let people have more leisure without loss of income. In the early days, there was this wonderful idea that computers would free up time for creativity. All they really seem to do is to increase production and consumption and take jobs away. Good scientific uses, of course, but the average person isn't helped much.

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I hate computers...
Feb 18, 2011 11:59PM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? It was back in the '80's. My first computer was a 286, I forget which brand but it had a huge amount of memory 16 MB and I think it stored something like 40 MB. Of course the week after I bought it the 386 came out..sigh...

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? It was fairly simple back then...for the most part. Programs were simple and the games were a blinking cursor you moved around usually...

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? My comuter expertise is only knowing just enough about computers to really screw one up.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Dealing with new operating systems that either have so many bugs you have to spray the computer with a can of Raid or throw the damn thing out the window. Also trying to deal with programs where you have to go through all sorts of steps to upgrade or remove or insert files somewhere... I just want to push a dang button and have it install and work..

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Booze and drugs...lots of each...

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? Not really..seems like it is harder since things are more sophisticated.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? Depends.. anywhere from 3 to 8 hours depending on how long I want to play my offline and online games, answer emails and deal with Face book.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Huh? Well I think you mean do I like where computers are today.. NO!!! To much nonsense on the internet and trying to keep up with all the new stuff is annoying.

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Why are computers hard to use?
Feb 19, 2011 12:03AM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
Yes about 1964 - programming in basic assembler on a Burroughs 200 -- 4K card reader, printer and tape drives.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
Actually yes - I started by debugging my husband's code and sort of fell into programming. Burroughs assembler was pretty simple - 12 byte instruction and variable length data . Of course you were also limited in what you could do and there were no screens to consider.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
Journey has had its bumps. I think while we were on mainframes life was a good deal simpler. Someone else took care of the operating system, updating software, hardware problems etc. We only had to understand user needs and code solutions - a simpler problem.
When we moved to PCs they too were relatively simple - again screens were much simpler - languages on the mainframe became very easy to use - examples were NOMAD and other 3rd generation languages. These did not immediately migrate to the PC - we were instead faced with fairly complicated PC based data base products.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?

Oh yes - for instance I now have a fairly new PC that drops into the blue screen of death at least once a day - I have followed all the advice I can get but still it continues. Waiting for tecchie son to look at that one.
Very difficult to figure out what I really need to keep on my machine - I have two copies of the operating system for some reason and daren't touch either.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
Yes - had two sons who are tecchies - that helped a lot
Became a senior exec - then had peons who solved my problems for me - hired good ones - now I retired - serious mistake!
Am good at reading manuals - other people are not so good at writing them - my sons say it is all instinctive and they don't generally read manuals
I am patient

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

No definitely not - but that is really because you can do so much more with the modern computer - I still think software is really written by tecchies for tecchies not for normal human beings. That has been a bit of a problem from the beginning - every time it started to get resolved - be more end user oriented - new stuff appeared and the tecchies went back to normal. A bit of an exaggeration but there!

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

Generally about 5 hours - that does not include my IPAD etc - those I consider as toys and do not use for any serious stuff!

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

Yes - and I am sure they will become more pervasive - I just can't imagine going back to the days when everything didn't have computers built in - e.g. cars, security systems - oh and even my kitchen applicances - those have of course got a lot easier to use!

Good luck on your study - I'm originally from Newcastle on Tyne - a geordie.

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Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 19, 2011 12:41AM PST

I assume you are not including mainframe computing, so:
a) 1982 - with an Apple E
b) not really, it required a new frame of mind;
c) never, MS' habit of introducing new OS software so often, engendering yet newer software applications, has meant an interminable journey of learning and re-training complicated by the fast progresses of hardware;
d) see c) above, plus coping with managing the ever increasing amount of data received, accessed and retrieved;
e) limited ones: disks back up, monitor and intall drivers and software updates;
f)no, more complex as the years go by;
g) 2 - 3 hours;
h) warily.

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It is Sorta Related
Feb 19, 2011 12:41AM PST

He's answering that sometimes PCs are difficult to use because they are NOT all the same. As you correctly pointed out, if all computers were the same, it would be boring and we would just be randomly picking up any PC out there based on cost. We would either be using command-line computers such as DOS, Unix, etc. or we would be using computers that look like the Macintosh (such as Windows).

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General Thoughts on Difficulty
Feb 19, 2011 12:51AM PST

I already answered the question part previously, but I had more things to consider.

I had this one "hot shot" show up at work claiming he could "figure out" any piece of software. So, I put him to the test and he proved to himself how wrong he was. Software fits into three categories:

1) Intuitive
2) Non-intuitive
3) Counter-Intuitive

If something is intuitive, based on a reasonable amount intelligence and experience, one can easily figure out how to properly use the software. The issue here is how much experience one has.

If something is non-intuitive, you have to go to a class or read a manual or look at the "help" regardless of how bright you are. A lot of command-line utilities are like this or some very task-oriented software. If some software is counter-intuitive, the one would think they know how it works, but would soon find out that what they are doing is destroying data or something like that.

I got the hot shot to use administer Lotus Notes and showed him how "hitting the delete key" to remove a user appeared to work but didn't completely work. It was a good example of counter-intuition.

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Wht are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 19, 2011 12:58AM PST

1. TRS 99A, early 80s
2. It was a lot easier. Became more difficult with Microsoft holding its programs private.
3. A lot more problematical, with every new MS OS being full of problems, from useless code to open to spam and viruses.
4. Every time I have to upgrade to a new OS from MS.
5. Get online to CNET and other forums, google searches for solutions.
6. Between legal work, emails, Facebook and Twitter, not to mention games, easily 10-14 hours most days.
7. Until Watson showed up on Jeopardy, there was no real progress in computing. More and more simple appliances are being tied into a computer, but that is just more "work" for the computer, not any real progress, just more opportunities to fail or be hijacked.

While not part of your questions, the internet has been the biggest step in computer use, and the social media have become the biggest use of the net. Yahoo!Answers and Answers.com have become the first source of answers to questions for a lot of kids and adults - unfortunately, since so many responders know little or nothing about the question and its subject.

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Answers ...
Feb 19, 2011 3:36AM PST

Yes, the problem with Answers.com is that one expects an answer from an authority, but so far all I have seen is answers by people with only partial answers, or more often wrong answers.

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Why are computers still so hard to use?
Feb 19, 2011 1:29AM PST

Can you remember when you started using computers?
During engineering lab in college in 1969 I was introduced to the nascent ARPAnet and learned how to create punch cards for data entry.

Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with?
No, I was not a very good typist and any mistake had to be thrown out and restarted. Programming was machine language, and I wasn't willing to learn a new language. I am very grateful to all the programmers that have created all the marvelous software that is now very easy to download and use.

Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
No, although I worked on computer systems in the Navigation Center on nuclear submarines in the 70's and IBM 360's and the officeMAC LISA system in the 80's, I didn't break down and join the computer society at home until 1995 when I bought a WebTV. That was adequate for my needs until 2005 when I bought a Sony VAIO with WindowsXP. Now I have a Dell desktop running XP and a new VAIO running Windows 7 with which I am rapidly becoming best friends.

Do you have any challenges even now?
Because I am fairly familiar with Windows XP, the shift to Windows 7 has been pretty easy. I am not a gammer, but I have always looked at conquering a new software program and integrating it into my computer as the ultimate game. I still have no desire to learn the language of computers and rarely touch even HTML language. As long as there are youngsters out there willing to produce new software i am willing to give it a try (ie the new Hamster video converter is my latest download via CNET; thank you very much)

Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Patience is a learned virtue and will garner you the ultimate reward. Intellectual curiosity opens the mind's eye to other genre which is the greatest aid when conducting computer searches. It really helps to read more than what's on the computer screen to engage the synapses (eg books, magazines, product labels, technical manuals). Don't be afraid to open your eyes to new realms of knowledge, but always enable the mental discernment button before downloading all you hear or read.

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

On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
If you include DVR, digital tv, MP3 player, laptop, desktop, Archos 70 internet tablet, and cell phone then the anser is about 18 hours. If you add all the RF from wireless routers, cell phone towers, satellites, tv and radio transmiters, then 24/7.

Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
Can't live with them, can't live with out them; but within the next 5 years the internet will wakeup to itself, and in 30 years a version of the Cylons (ie BSG) will be amongst us.

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Response
Feb 19, 2011 1:47AM PST

1 - 1979 on a Timex Sinclair 1000

2 - only easy in the sense that I had no purpose other than pure learning and the machines of that era had very limited capability.

3 - my journey has been professional (starting in 1991) as well as personal and has ranged from mainframe to midrange to microcomputers both in development and infrastructure and into network engineering, security, data design, process management and business value analysis as well. At times it has been challenging (C++ development work), at times things have come easily (infrareucture architecture) It is always complex, but enjoying and managing that complexity (as well as realizing that this complexity is a bad thing for customers and consumers of the technology) is part of being a technologist.

4 - today I am working with tier 1 carriers building IaaS foundations. The challenges are bigger than ever. The simpler things need to be on the front end, the more complexity that is required on the back end (which goes to the essence of your premise)

5 - passion for technology, for me, means it isn't really "coping". The day I hate it, I'm out, but I doubt that day will come.

6 - the challenges are similar proportionally. Back then it was all new for nearly everyone and was difficult in a different way (machine level view if systems). Today the systems are bigger, more complex, and highly abstracted, but the body of knowledge is broader and the tools are more advanced as well.

7 - probably 8 hours + if the definition extends to mobile devices

8 - I absolutely do or I might not have the level of passion I do - it is in my DNA. I truly believe in the transformational nature of technology and it's vital importance to the human race. That said, I agree things are certainly too hard (possibly because systems are designed and built by engineers and appreciation for simplicity of function is not a hallmark of most engineers). I also appreciate that for many, they find technology to be a burden and increasingly want to "unplug". I think this is at least partially because of the very real need for technology to become both more usable and more "invisible". We have a long way to go, but are heading the right way.

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Not so difficult, but Microsoft is making them more so ...
Feb 19, 2011 2:00AM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers?
1965, in a very simple way - but they were all relatively simple in '65. It started with a correspondence course about basic CPU and other hardware, and binary & octal number systems. If everyone got a little basic knowledge of CPUs and rudimentary number systems the rest would be easy.

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

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were?
The biggest challenge was learning to use a mouse and converting from keyboard to mouse and graphics oriented thinking.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Microsoft keeps changing the file system organization with each "improvement" to the OS. I don't see why they need to change the organization around just because of security changes.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
No strategy, just getting my hands dirty finding out what undocumented changes MS made.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now?
No.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices?
Six to eight hours.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now?
No. Maybe. Probably. Naaah. Just stop "improving" the system.

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add to my comment...
Feb 19, 2011 2:32AM PST

Question: "Do you have any challenges even now?"

When the system works, no problem. When an error occurs, that's when people start cursing computers.

In the early days when the IBM PC had only 64K of RAM, using numbers for error codes made sense. Today, there is no excuse for error messages that are not in plain language. In plain language, and also that are understandable.

With Windows 7, The file system paradigm of "Libraries" is useless to me. The original File Manager in Windows 3.x was fine and should never have been changed. Today there are so many folders with names like Documents, My Documents, Public Documents, etc., I want to scream. There are three Explorer systems in Windows- File Manager should never have been renamed to Explorer, and Internet Explorer should probably have been called something else. There are two folders called "My Documents" - one is hidden but I see no point in hiding folders, so I unhide mine - but there should be no duplicate folder names to begin with. When I try to access the hidden My Documents, I get the error message: "... not accessible. Access denied." No explanation as to why access is denied. A Microsoft engineer slapped my hand for unhiding my folders and files, on the grounds that I might break the system; I haven't broken it since Windows 95, or even before, so that is not a logical response.

Even "Administrators" are denied full access to Windows 7 single-user systems. There should be full access to a single-user system, only networked systems need to invoke the Administrator restrictions.

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Reply to "add to my comment"
Feb 19, 2011 5:25AM PST

Yes, yes, yes! to your remarks about Libraries and duplicate names. Talk about confusion! And to what purpose? You are not alone in wanting File Manager to have its identity back!
Thanks for that.

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Why are computers still so difficult to use?
Feb 19, 2011 2:12AM PST

- I first used dumb terminals to central mainframe computers in the early 60's.
- Dumb terminal to mainframe use was rigidly scripted so, yes it was easy.
- Along the way I've used several dumb terminal to mainframe systems, mini computer clusters, and eventually computer workstations. One job had me mounting around 35-40 applications and/or remote testing tools at a time during my workday. My first home computer was a TI99-4a in the mid 1980's and I was using Apple II computers in tech training through school and work then. My first Window's PC was 1994; I was ecstatic with the 'new' Mozilla GUI browser and internet access to far flung libraries & cultural sites.
- Challenges were aided by computer tech and electronics training, building my own PC's, servers, and networks in night school. There's no teaching lesson as effective as your own triumphs and, especially, mistakes.
- My home computer challenges have, almost, disappeared since switching from Windows to Mac in 2009; any challenges now tend to be with networking equipment that's not built by Apple, such as my InternetServiceProvider NetworkInterfaceUnit and their inability to represent their own service and products. I'm retired from the ISP company and, regularly, find myself educating their tech support and sales staff about their own services. Now there's a 'real challenge', finding competent technical support, outside of Apple, who both knows the subject AND speaks English well enough to be understood.
- My single coping strategy is using 'Scientific Method' to keep complete record and start over when a step fails; it's less tedious than you'd think.
- The equipment, networking, software, and support ARE more difficult to use now just because of so many areas of innovation. A narrow scope computer user will even find it difficult to follow voluminous troubleshooting information available via the 'net; it's best to find reliable technical help in one or two places and stick with them.
- 1 to 3 hours per day, including entertainment programming via my TV, since retirement.
- Innovation is good but cooperative standards, such as IEEE and ANSI, corral new applications and equipment because helter-skelter development can be unfocused and wasteful. That can destroy ANY consumer based business; users will just move on when facing difficulty.
- Microsoft dominates in the business and networking world; until that company stops rushing product to market without adequate testing then users will have to deal with difficult workday problems. Microsoft is becoming the 'standard' and that should worry everyone.

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Response to Ronald G.'s Project at Warwick University UK
Feb 19, 2011 2:40AM PST

Dear Ronald:

What a brilliant idea! Below I will respond to your 8 bullets:

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? I first was introduced to computers in 1971 -- an Olivetti Programma -- when I was a research assistant at a local university. From then on, computers played an increasingly important role in my life. From there I went into the nuclear business where we still used a "comptometer" for arithmetic but our data was presented on punch tape off a teletype machine. We solved 6 order matrices on the compometer! I used the HP41CX to create data reductiion algorithms for alpha spectroscopy. In 1984 I hired a fellow who'd taught himself to use the early DOS machines, the Commodores & Texas Instruments generation. He taught me all the basics & I learned to program in DBase. He & I built an entire program -- back end & front end -- that was in use for over 10 years, until the "experts" introduced Microsoft Access, which in fact is inferior to DBase III+.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? It was a minor challenge, I was a scientist so it was "just one more piece" I had to deal with.

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? My learning curve has been continuous since the beginning. I'm retired now so I'm now into the publishing & design business as well as science.

-- Do you have any challenges even now? Oh, sure there are challenges but the internet's so easy (now) that most answers are only a click away.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies? Not really.

-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? No, the challenges are the same. Right now I'm tackling the new postal regulations in USA which require a new barcode for bulk mailings.

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? Hours -- maybe up to 8 or so.

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Not necessairly. I always am believing that computers have become "too functional" in many respects. Re: my mailing issue stated above, I would wish the USPS to just provide the software & simple instructions to use the new technology. Instead it's outsourced to 3rd parties (because that's what the USA does!) who add another layer of dis-functionality.

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Microsoft ruining a good product ...
Feb 19, 2011 3:28AM PST

Microsoft Access is impossibly complex, whereas dBase was a relatively easy to program and easy to use program. Access successfully hid one of the most useful functions, capitalizing the first character in a string. I spent hours trying to find the function, not believing they actually left it out. I finally found it, but gave up on using Access because it was so complex. I still use some of my dBase apps on my XP computer. Same with SuperCalc vs. Excel. There are several things that are easier to do in SuperCalc, and no excuse for MS not including them in Excel.

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They're not!
Feb 19, 2011 3:08AM PST

-- Can you remember when you started using computers? 1968 IBM 1620 I - then sort of a mini mainframe. Using punch cards and Fortran II. This was at a local Jr. College during jr year at High School.

-- Would you say this was an easy process to get to grips with? Better than easy - it was a whole lot of fun!

-- Since then, has your journey been straightforward, and if not, can you remember what some of your challenges were? Twists and turns all over the place - but nothing a 1/2 decent users manual couldn't fix.

-- Do you have any challenges even now?
Some aspects of network securities.

-- Did you/do you have any coping strategies?
RTFM!!!!! Read the "fine" manual!
-- Looking back, do you think the challenges you faced are any easier to tackle now? No! Less documentation and software goes too far to attempt to make things easier but only manages to limit flexibility and impair operability - mainly leading to simple frustration with unwarranted limitations needed to "dumb it down".

-- On a typical day, how long will you be interacting with computer devices? 4+ hours

-- Do you appreciate the extended functionality/increasing pervasiveness of computing now? Not really - mainly gets in the way. I still prefer DOS.