Change in computers as a hobbiest... 2851

Charlie Gibbs

I don't agree.

First of all, most of us simply do not have the time or energy to gain a technical understanding of what's going on inside. Nor do we need one. The whole point of machines is to make our life easier, not add more stuff to study.

When the Bell System introduced direct dial long distance in the 1950s and 1960s it trained customers as to what an area code was and how to dial the call. It did not tell customers about how the calls were registered for billing (AMA), switched at toll centers (#4 crossbar), or transported (microwave relay). There was no need for customers to know any of that stuff in order to make a call.

When I drive my car, I have a general idea of how its functions work, but no idea of some of the details. I don't know how power steering works. I don't know how the automatic transmission works. I don't know how the onboard computer works or what it does. I don't know how the airbags work. How is a radial tire built? None of this is necessary to know to safely and properly drive my car.

A light user on a spreadsheet or word processor has no need to know about the spreadsheet program or computer operating system. If the user has more needs they'll learn as they go.

Second of all, too much knowledge can be burden. As a veteran program, sometimes I get more confused when learning a new PC product, since I'm used to doing some things myself that are now automated. Things I needed to worry about years ago no longer matter, and that's an advantage.

That includes pretty much every consumer product ever made with "new and improved" on the label.

I agree the industry is very different than 1970, but not just because of technology. The working environment is very different as well, for very different reasons. But computers are no different than other industries; they evolve over time as well. I'm sure working for GM or US Steel nowadays is very different than in 1970 when those industries were healthy and had a bright future (in 1970 little did they know of what 1974 would bring).