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

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

#11

It's the tools that suck, not the users. If you have two folders open in Microsoft Windows, and drag an item from one to the other... there are 3 possible actions (as of a decade ago) that might happen according to an set of rules the user can't be expected to know.... It might copy the file it might create a shortcut to the file it might move the file This is just a tiny example of the inconsistency of one of the ol…

That's fair to say! But I think the takeaway is less about "who is to blame" and more about "what should you ask of users?" No matter what the precise cause, most users will struggle to do anything complex, and you should design your products wi†h that understanding.

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

#12
What is this actually measuring though? Half of what makes these tasks difficult seems to be the lack of an explicit target. Failure in that task suggests more about critical thinking and reasoning skills than "computer skills", which is suggestive of something much more specific...

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

#13

I was quite surprised to read that about a quarter of the participants weren't able to delete an email in their email app (the "Can't Use Computers" group). This was 2016, though, so maybe things have changed drastically since then. Does anyone know of a related, but more recent study?

I wouldn't be surprised if it got worse.

Most people are on phones now, who uses computers if not for work?

But I guess one could argue using phones would be the same, but even then my personal experience is that most people don't know much about phones either.

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

#14

A related anecdote - i’ve observed that computer skills in successive generation cohorts is dropping and dramatically. I’m a millennial but was fortunate enough to have grown up with parents who had no idea about tech but gave me tools and manuals to learn. Most of the books i read before the age of ten were computer manuals. they were in the trash and easy to access. Tech was also fragile in the 90s and 2000s so the…

We make products that intentionally hide any aspect of computing from the user, make up branded terminology for what they do, and vaguely threaten people with the police and financial ruin who dig into them or try to use them in a way that they weren't intended to be used. We do this in order to lock them in. Over the past couple decades we've done our best to keep users ignorant and fearful of switching from our products because all of their skills and data will be lost. I think it started with the "ribbon" in Office, but it was full blown after the introduction of the iPhone (and Android, later.)

A reckoning is coming. You can't intentionally make an entire generation stupid and not feel the consequences eventually. Who's going to teach their kids?

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

#15

A related anecdote - i’ve observed that computer skills in successive generation cohorts is dropping and dramatically. I’m a millennial but was fortunate enough to have grown up with parents who had no idea about tech but gave me tools and manuals to learn. Most of the books i read before the age of ten were computer manuals. they were in the trash and easy to access. Tech was also fragile in the 90s and 2000s so the…

When you don't have to struggle to learn the basics of how to use something, you won't develop the mental model of operation you can carry forward.

We (Late X, millenials) did have to struggle just to operate a computer. We had to build a mental model to work around inadequate tools in the OS and beyond.

Younger people have had adequate tools to interact with computers, so they've never been forced to build that mental model - to build an intuitive understanding of how a computer works. So, yeah, it's not too surprising to me.

They can absolutely learn such models, but it's going to take more effort and intentional digging for rough spots to do so. For the most part, it's not like we can just give them a '95 PC with Windows 95 and say "go for it."

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

#16

A related anecdote - i’ve observed that computer skills in successive generation cohorts is dropping and dramatically. I’m a millennial but was fortunate enough to have grown up with parents who had no idea about tech but gave me tools and manuals to learn. Most of the books i read before the age of ten were computer manuals. they were in the trash and easy to access. Tech was also fragile in the 90s and 2000s so the…

When you don't have to struggle to learn the basics of how to use something, you won't develop the mental model of operation you can carry forward. We (Late X, millenials) did have to struggle just to operate a computer. We had to build a mental model to work around inadequate tools in the OS and beyond. Younger people have had adequate tools to interact with computers, so they've never been forced to build that ment…

this is an interesting angle.

on the topic of tools, i want to add something i rue - the loss of printed instruction manuals. My iphone can do a lot and has many features but most are useless to me because one - there is no printed manual i can use (a screen is a sub-par replacement) and..

two - the discoverability is terrible. With more things moving mobile-first, the discoverability of features is just gone. there’s a delicate balance between the capability of software and the east of use. TeX comes to mind a a good example.

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

#17

It's the tools that suck, not the users. If you have two folders open in Microsoft Windows, and drag an item from one to the other... there are 3 possible actions (as of a decade ago) that might happen according to an set of rules the user can't be expected to know.... It might copy the file it might create a shortcut to the file it might move the file This is just a tiny example of the inconsistency of one of the ol…

[dead]

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

#18

A related anecdote - i’ve observed that computer skills in successive generation cohorts is dropping and dramatically. I’m a millennial but was fortunate enough to have grown up with parents who had no idea about tech but gave me tools and manuals to learn. Most of the books i read before the age of ten were computer manuals. they were in the trash and easy to access. Tech was also fragile in the 90s and 2000s so the…

I think this is interesting and come from a like background as you. Building machines and discovering our router had wifi on a Sony PSP. Some thoughts: 1: Boomers and Gen X kinda screwed later generations with incredibly awful computer education in schools. Most schools are basically marketing firms for Google and Microsoft Office. Kids are just not taught the basics at all and instead are handed endless document tasks that are absolutely meaningless to real life.

2: One can argue that all of what you define as 'tech skills' are actually just legacy thought processes that have gone by the wayside. Folder structures are often silly on modern devices with great search. Startup sequences are unneeded to be known because their modern hardware solves it's own problems when things go wrong (ChromeOS for example can just re-image and restore files/settings automatically upon boot failure). They know how to type with their thumbs because the full size keyboard is not relevant and once again, schools don't teach it. Microsoft will gladly have GPT 4.0 write a macro faster than you could.

3: I would also bet that later generations are better at some things. Notably handling the social web, personal image, and expecting to deal with scams and fraud. Our generation got thrown head first into a world where everything is there always. Where your past follows you. They grew up with it, it is native. They know to be more careful in sharing. Their bullies sit down at their dinner tables and on their nightstand because the internet and social networks exist after school hours. General smartphone use skills are likely better. Gen Z is also, according to other reports, less likely to smoke or drink and generally more willing to make stable life choices.

It's easily to point the finger at a next generation but I think A: The problem tends to be the prior generation's fault. It is wild that so many generations will say 'kids these days' but it is their kids. B: The lens through which the generation is judged is not actually fair. I would also note this: The generation before us would argue that we don't know how to drive stick, read an analog clock, or balance a checkbook. The world moved on.

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

#19

A related anecdote - i’ve observed that computer skills in successive generation cohorts is dropping and dramatically. I’m a millennial but was fortunate enough to have grown up with parents who had no idea about tech but gave me tools and manuals to learn. Most of the books i read before the age of ten were computer manuals. they were in the trash and easy to access. Tech was also fragile in the 90s and 2000s so the…

It's interesting the differences between gen z and older generations when it comes to computers. I'm a cusper (millenial/gen z) so I grew up with computers, just like my parents who are gen x, so we all understand it just fine. But I'll help out someone who can't be any older than their late 40's with a $2,500 laptop, who almost started crying when I opened a new tab in her browser because she thought I deleted it. S…

As someone on the cusp from X to Millenial, I get mobile fine, but the loss of screen space is why I'll never prefer it. And this is made worse by the natural degradation of eyesight as I get older.

I did have to make an intentional effort to become comfortable on a mobile device, though.

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

#20

A related anecdote - i’ve observed that computer skills in successive generation cohorts is dropping and dramatically. I’m a millennial but was fortunate enough to have grown up with parents who had no idea about tech but gave me tools and manuals to learn. Most of the books i read before the age of ten were computer manuals. they were in the trash and easy to access. Tech was also fragile in the 90s and 2000s so the…

We make products that intentionally hide any aspect of computing from the user, make up branded terminology for what they do, and vaguely threaten people with the police and financial ruin who dig into them or try to use them in a way that they weren't intended to be used. We do this in order to lock them in. Over the past couple decades we've done our best to keep users ignorant and fearful of switching from our pro…

That's because our goal is to make it easier to use. Calculator also hides how multiplication works from the user, it just provides the result.
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