There are two users of software (so the saying goes): those who when something goes wrong blame themselves and those who blame the program. While this does over generalize a bit I’ve witnessed it in action. It’s not just experience that differentiates the two types: I think some tech users have a kind of intuitive way of interacting with it. And this intuition cannot be taught.
To the case study! My mother has been using a computer for longer than I have. She had one for her business accounting back when you needed to know DOS, well before the WYSIWYG word processor. Yet, she remains to this day remarkably unintuitive with her computer. Read More …
October 27th, 2006
Posted by
Kath |
General |
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A few weeks ago I bought a new cell phone. Why I didn’t replace the piece of junk that I had been carrying around for 6 years sooner is a mystery to all. Really, that thing needed replacing from the moment I bought it. I even lost it for several months and it only resurfaced when I was about to call to cancel the service.
I decided on a Sony Ericsson W300i. It was a tough decision. The truth is I only need a basic phone. My primary concerns are battery life (since my old one had none) and signal strength (since my old one had none). Beyond that everything else is gravy. Read More …
October 16th, 2006
Posted by
Kath |
Tech Toys |
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The CBC Technology section has an article about Women and Gadgets. A recent American survey suggests that women are more into techno gadgetry than jewelry or clothes (or even shoes). High tech bling, you might say. Read More …
October 11th, 2006
Posted by
Kath |
Tech Toys |
one comment
A friend of mine recently told me about a blog she’d started to discuss VoIP. When I tried to search for it I was amazed to discover she was near the top of Google’s list. She felt that there was a need for a woman’s point of view on the VoIP technology and obviously she was correct.
”You should try this, Kath,” she told me. “This is your medium.”
I had never before considered creating a blog. The blogs I have read (admittedly, a very few of the many available) have either been shocking, distressingly personal, or dull. But before I dismissed the idea entirely, I remembered one I’d seen recently about creating passionate users of software.
The authors of that blog were speaking my language. Which is what? Although I work in a technical field, I’m neither an IT expert nor a programmer. I speak for the users of the software we build and it is sometimes a lonely position.
I love tech. I love new toys that are technical. I’m fascinated by how things are designed and angered when design is not well done. And I love words and writing. Maybe my friend was right about this being my medium.
I’ll do my best not to be shocking, distressingly personal, or dull.
October 9th, 2006
Posted by
Kath |
General |
no comments