The Distribution of Users’ Computer Skills: Worse Than You Think (2016)

Absurd. There are a huge number of tasks for which, if I'm only allowed one device to accomplish it, I'd definitely take an iPad over a laptop. Practically anything involving photography or recording video or audio, for instance. Many sorts of art. Music, depending on the task. If allowed an external keyboard it's better than a laptop for writing in some environments—the decoupled device & keyboard allow for more flexibility in arranging print outs, books, and any other stuff you need.

For some of it an iPhone, even, is better than a laptop or desktop. And it fits in my pocket. A laptop doesn't.

Slab-of-glass type computers are worse at some things than traditional desktops and laptops but wildly better than "normal" computer at a ton of others, especially given space or budget constraints. The statement that tablets and phones are consumption devices to a greater degree than other computers is very wrong and I can't believe it keeps popping up so often, after all this time.

[EDIT] I also object to dividing consumption and creation so neatly. Consumption is part of all sorts of creation tasks. Maybe most. When you look something up on SO has a switch flipped and now you're "consuming" rather than "creating"? If I'm reading a recipe on my tablet is that consumption? What if I'm cooking at the same time? Scanning back through a video on some home improvement project to check my work while I'm working? For that matter, add "basically anything that involves doing things in the real world" to the list of creative activities for which I'd take a phone or tablet to assist me, both as a relevant-media display device and as a tool itself, over a laptop. I use my iPhone a ton just about any time I do actual doing-real-world-stuff work.

Now I do get the article itself is more about the level of computer literacy rather than the distribution, and that things like the mean skill might be way below where you think it is.

Part of my pet peeves about 'modern' systems is the indiscoverability. There was a glorious time in between the magic incantations command line and obscure multi key keyboard presses, and the wiz bang of of secret hand and finger gestures, where there was a universal compact meta system of menus and dialog boxes that while it could be extensive, allowed for browsing through all the command option in a discoverable way (and yes, I am over-glorifying).

We somewhere seem to have lost this. It is not about the command prompt vs menus vs gestures. It is about having a clear and universal road to discovery when you do not know what and how some command can be given.

Of course. If 50% could do them, they wouldn’t be called “high computer-related skills”. Only 5% of the population has high athletics/cooking/etc. skills, too.

”and only a third of people can complete medium-complexity tasks.”

Seems like the definition of “medium-complexity” needs a small adjustment.

The message of this is “the medium is lower than you think it is”.

The good news is that what is considered medium goes up all the time. Transferring files between computers used to require meddling with ‘standard’ RS-232 cables and Kermit. Nowadays, 3-year olds regularly do it. Retouching photos used to be something for the 1% (and that likely is rounding up significantly). Now, 5-year olds can do it in seconds (taste still may need development at that age). Printing a map with the driving route from A to B? Child’s play (but they would wonder why you would take the trouble)