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Most people in my family older than me used to be fine with computers. They're much harder to use and more confusing these days.
by clearleaf 4y ago
Most people in my family older than me used to be fine with computers. They're much harder to use and more confusing these days.
- vineyardmike 4y agoThe first “computer” my grandmother used was an iPad. She has no idea how the pictures of her grandchildren end up on the screen with the envelope button (Email App). If I handed her a Mac (or god forbid windows) she would be way more confused. Even one 20yo. Today, the UI is more graphic and more simple than ever before BUT it’s decreasingly connected to the expectations of desktop computing. Many here on HN who grew up and professionally use desktop OSes have lamented the changes (“they’re bringing iOS to the Mac!”) that’s simply because we already had an idea of what idioms and UI patterns to look for. At the same time, we’re generating new patterns that aren’t grounded in historic imagery (and maybe have no research at all) and this is hard for everyone. Especially websites and internet activités. One example is the “x” to close a window. On a traditional computer, closing the window stops the application and it’s done. Meanwhile, minimizing the app keeps it just shifts the view. On a phone, you don’t really stop the application you just shift view back to Home Screen (you can force close but it’s not really needed). Phones don’t have the same UI at all as windowed devices. So it’s less clear what you’re doing on them. But websites… closing them stops them and today many websites are basically apps.