User Computer Illiteracy

Well, these computers and email and messaging apps and web browsers -- they use the same ones for years, without really ever "getting it".It's not as if they're saving time, when they need to knock on my apartment door, and ask what's happened with their computer (the browser window was 1cm to the right of the edge of the screen so some buttons seemed to be"gone").it's instead that ... When using the apps, they don't automatically effortlessly l

A person in 2011 who has never used a computer has far more serious issues (or "differences") to the way they approach life than you can solve by redesigning menus and layout.This would be like approaching someone in their teens who still cannot read and trying to design a book you are writing to be more accessible to them instead of your general readership.It's simply a matter of hand-on, over time. I've converted a few AOL users over the years to Firefox, etc. and there is absolutely not

You're talking about a tiny sliver of people who are savvy enough to try out this stuff. Most people I know never "try out stuff" when it comes to computers or phones or any other sufficiently complex electronic device. Heck, there is no desire to explore the interface as it exists now. Sure, if you show them some new feature, they might go - that's cool, and never think about it again. They see these things as simple patterns - To do this operation I do that and that's

Well, "my" end-user is someone who have studied "computer science" a bit at school or to work, since he/she use computers every days, like he/she drive a car, so it's not acceptable he/she master computer usage less at level of mastery inferior to the one he/she master his/her car.I know very well how illiterate so many people are, but that's not something to be justified but to be corrected. I imaging you do not want a bus driver who can

You beat me to it.HN readers who don't work with non-technical users may not realize just how lost and unable to explore many people are, particularly when they didn't grow up with computers. There's also a huge problem with "dialog blindness."If you have an understanding of how "computers" (hardware, OS, apps, websites, doesn't matter it's all the same mystery box) work then you can explore with less fear. I deal with people in their 20s and 30

I'd be willing to be those 9 out of 10 users barely know how to use a desktop computer beyond "click on the button for the internet".I suppose that's the difference: the price they pay in user control and freedom is swapped for experiences and abilities to which they would never otherwise be exposed.I prefer not to frame those people as ignorant in a negative way. It is we who set them up with those devices and taught them how to use them, we were just as ignorant.

Hmm i think its mindset (and to some extent intelligence) based - for some folks phone will always be a gizmo for clicking on whatapp, call, watch funny videos and mabe 1-2 more things. Open concept of OS, tweakability etc. is beyond their care.Some simpler folks need simple world - if this, then that. Critical thinking, complex topics, more than 1 truth etc are just too much. This yes, this no. This confirms my fears/makes me happy to hear, I will vote for it. Of course they are frustra

That's not them having trouble with the UI/UX, that's them flat out now knowing any sort of fundamental computer usage patterns.

On YouTube some years ago, there was a kid in Australia who made a series of videos where his Mum would try a different OS in each episode. IIRC, most were Linux distributions.With respect to computers, people can learn to use anything. With computers, most people exercise little choice. Most do not care about computers or software (i.e., they are not like you, dearest HN reader). These things are just a means to an end. They learn what they are forced to learn to do what they have to do

You may not like it, but this is how non-techy users use computers and phones.