'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised • Hacker News Board

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#361

Post by meristohm » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:28 PM UTC

Boogie_Man wrote: post #128

fifticon wrote: post #120

My doctor/'s office was just forced to switch to app-instead-of-website for patient interation. Ironically, the old and this new software came from same megacorp I work for (different department, same story). The old web interface was rather good and rather sensible-practical-sane. It was almost as if someone had asked a doctor what he actually needed for his patients, and then understood his answer and also managed…

At what point does this constitute a hostile action against the user and what degree of retaliation is appropriate? Open question for everyone.

I tend to push back against this nonsense pretty firmly, and would go so far as to request paper documents be sent, as "I don't have a device up to the task" (which sometimes is true, as I use old hardware until I luck into a handmedown or the thing breaks). I get that paper and postage and time are costs. So is user time and stress level.

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#362

Post by MandieD » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:30 PM UTC

The big group that keeps getting ignored are older people who actually do have smartphones, but find them increasingly difficult to use as they age, due to how fiddly touch interfaces can be and visuals designed by and for people in their 20s, not 70s and 80s.

Typing on a smartphone is impossible for my 70-something father, even on the larger models.

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#363

Post by rapind » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:32 PM UTC

maximilianthe1 wrote: post #339

bluefirebrand wrote: post #300

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> For any normal CRUD app, it should take milliseconds to do whatever task. Even with network delays, 150 milliseconds is a reasonable upper bound for end-to-end processing This is only really true with stable, high speed internet connections. We still cannot take for granted that everyone has that, especially not in rural areas and double especially not on mobile devices

Also, inside buildings in very urban areas

Also in my house in the first world because our telcos are an order of magnitude worse than third world telcos.

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#364

Post by sylware » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:33 PM UTC

Solution: restore noscript/basic (x)html interop, where it can do a good enough job (like most online services where doing a few years ago...).

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#365

Post by dehrmann » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:34 PM UTC

joshdavham wrote: post #127

I’m fascinated by this phenomenon of apps proposing solutions that are far worse than the previous existing solutions. For example: 1. Parking apps are worse than parking meters. 2. Tinder is worse than IRL speed dating. 3. Duolingo is worse than language classes. 4. Airline apps that are worse than just printing a boarding pass. 5. Etc It really makes me frustrated as someone who builds software and generally thinks…

> 4. Airline apps that are worse than just printing a boarding pass.

Whenever I fly business class for an international trip, I always check in at the counter. It's just as fast, but getting that boarding pass printing on cardstock and tucked into the photo page of my passport feels so quaint and charming.

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#366

Post by miltonlost » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:34 PM UTC

MandieD wrote: post #362

The big group that keeps getting ignored are older people who actually do have smartphones, but find them increasingly difficult to use as they age, due to how fiddly touch interfaces can be and visuals designed by and for people in their 20s, not 70s and 80s. Typing on a smartphone is impossible for my 70-something father, even on the larger models.

Touchscreens also frequently don't work with older people's skin which is often dry. They often literally cannot type because the screen doesn't pick up the electrical currents in the drier, more insulated fingers. Physical keyboards wouldn't have this problem.

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#367

Post by FpUser » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:35 PM UTC

Toronto, Canada. Tried to pay for street parking using their machine and with credit card. It spat out some gibberish on display that flashed too fast to read. Parking ticket guy was hanging around so I asked him WTF is going on. He said I must use the app or he will give a ticket. I tried to argue with him that they must still accept the other form of payment and I do not want to pollute phone with the app. He said that he does not give a shit and will issue ticket regardless of what fucking Toronto's parking website pages say.

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#368

Post by malfist » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:36 PM UTC

cbozeman wrote: post #271

ComposedPattern wrote: post #245

It's funny how people in this thread keep saying "well if you're going to complain about people being penalized for not using apps, you might as well complain about people being penalized for not using telephones/cars/internet"... and yes, I am going to complain about all of those things. I imagine that many or most homeless people don't have reliable access to any of the above. I have an anxiety disorder that makes…

[flagged]

Have some empathy for your fellow humans. Life is better for everyone, you included, when you give people some grace and don't assume bad intentions

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#369

Post by Henchman21 » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:36 PM UTC

EVa5I7bHFq9mnYK wrote: post #360

Henchman21 wrote: post #309

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the entire world requires smartphones to take part and you are unable to use a smartphone you deserve some protection, yes. If you see other options I’d be happy to hear them?

My question is can I sue based on that?

If you’re a protected class I would assume yes. IANAL this is not legal advice and this is not a real situation anyway

Re: 'The tyranny of apps': those without smartphones are unfairly penalised

#370

Post by gs17 » Sat, Feb 22, 2025, 6:37 PM UTC

MandieD wrote: post #362

The big group that keeps getting ignored are older people who actually do have smartphones, but find them increasingly difficult to use as they age, due to how fiddly touch interfaces can be and visuals designed by and for people in their 20s, not 70s and 80s. Typing on a smartphone is impossible for my 70-something father, even on the larger models.

Same for my parents (ironically, my 90-something grandmother can use an iPhone with no problem). My dad has Raynaud's (poor fingertip circulation), so touch screens sometimes just won't work for him anyways. Making things app-only is practically discrimination.