Smart Computers Dumb Users
-- Samuel Stoddard, Computer Stupidities
If you're a computer professional, you have been in this situation: one day, a person whom you know to be intelligent and educated needs to learn how to use a computer. And she just won't get it, no matter how hard you try. You may blame it on the computer being such a complex machine, or you being a bad teacher, but this doesn't explain why your other friend, who is not a genius either, had no trouble at all learning the very same skills from you.
Well, I believe I solved the mystery. Actually, it's pretty obvious if you think of it. Simply put, most people are not as smart and wise as they appear. Cynical? Not so. Let's see how a prestigious online dictionary (Merriam-Webster) defines intelligence:
New situations, indeed! Most people crave them, some even look for them, but how often do we actually find ourselves in a new situation?
Think about it for a minute.
Not very often, right?
Wasn't that an enlightening definition? The sad - and possibly offensive - truth is that most people only appear to be "smart and wise" - in the very familiar situations of day-to-day life. It just happens that computers are rather unfamiliar at first...
But, I hear you ask, even if it's true, how do most people end up, well, stupid? After all, everyone spends at least twelve years in school learning all kinds of stuff. That's true... if by learning you mean memorizing a lot of things they don't understand, only to reproduce them, tape recorder-like, during exams.
A sure sign of this syndrome is a computer newbie using a paper notebook to write down the steps of operating some program: he's not even trying to make sense of what he's being taught.
You may be wondering what is wrong with that. After all, it works well enough for teaching someone how to cook. Until, that is, your apprentice misreads a step. Or just wants to cook something a bit different, and you're not around to give new instructions.
Do I smell burned food?
Uh, what a convoluted explanation. Fact is, the only real way to learn something is to explore one's options, fixing mistakes along the way, until understanding sets in - along with success. Animals know that - ever watched a kitten pushing something over and then rushing to see what happened? Were you amused, or upset? I'm asking because you will almost certainly educate your children accordingly. And this is one thing you definitely want to get right.
Don't take my word for it. There is this scientific theory called 'constructivism'. Go read about it. No, I'm not giving any links this time. If you're reading this, you should be able to find the information yourself. It's easy: just double-click the Firefox icon, then...
(originally published on Saturday August 19, 2006 - 10:47pm)
Tags: essays
