What does it take to understand technology?

[Tab]

Make no mistake - I have a degree in computer science, am one in a handful in the world that understands a particular technology, have written books, articles, and have lectured.

But I can't understand my frickin' TIVO, and yesterday I just got a BlackBerry. I want to throw it away and just get a plain old phone.

I don't think I'm stupid, I think I'm just tired of having to go up a learning curve for every new device I buy. I want to just buy something and use the frickin' thing.

Is that too much to ask?

[MrScorpio]

1. You're confusing technology with the intricacy of bad design

Things can be technological without being designed poorly. Like my iMac fer-instance

Whenever a confluence of well-designed aesthetics, functionality, practicality and technology jells in a particular device, you'll have less of an aggravation factor while using it.

And no, it's not too much to ask.

[Swede]

2. This stuff is not user friendly.

Every manufacturer is different. Stereos have owner's manuals with 170 pages,how can anyone know all this stuff.

[mainegreen]

3. Crappy interface.

It's a part of the reason Apple does so well, and Linux has lagged. (Though it's really changed lately for linux)

[hunter]

4. You are not stupid. You simply have higher expectations.

I want knobs to turn, switches to throw, and dials to look at. Chiclet buttons, touch screens and deep menu trees simply irritate me. A heavy black rotary dial phone that simply does what it does is high technical art.

rotarydialphones.com

[hyphenate]

5. Ah--the failings of the modern gadgets!

Let's face it: a 12 year old now can relate better to some technologies than I can, and I have no doubt that what I know is already fairly obsolete.

When I was working steady, it was either sink or swim for knowing the latest version of almost any software program out there. I even worked on a help desk for while, and believe me, you had to be able to visualize not only the current version of a program, but all past versions as well!

But nowadays, it IS impossible to keep up with it all. You're not asking too much, but you're asking for the wrong thing. And if you're like me, working with a Mac just isn't as cool as some people want to make it out to be--it appeals to those who don't have the mind to wrap around more complex hardware or software. A friend of mine who has a Mac might not be exactly the least techno-savvy in the country, but he comes close--I have had many opportunities to see him completely vexed by anything more complex than a toaster; indeed, only recently I had to explain to him all about codecs, converting MPEG (DVD) files to AVIs, and wireless network connections! And he is a member of MENSA!

I think there is an opportunity to achieve greatness at the tech level with some online classes in a subject, or getting a video to help you through at least once. Intuitiveness is not always paramount in the minds of those that create new programs, hardware, or other gadgetry, though it should be. I tell everyone who comes to me for help to read the directions like I do if something isn't working the way it should. That's okay for me, they usually retort, but they want to have ME help them! Eventually, I hope to be able to say to them that I know nothing about whatever it is they're harping to me about, and hang up. It hasn't happened yet.