Some years ago I needed a file from my parents computer sent to me. I called my mother (father wasn't home) and asked her to send the file. I would guide her through the process.
The conversations went a little bit like this.
Me: Ok so you go to the desktop and open the mail client.
Mom: I am at the desk
Me: Not the desk, the desktop on the computer
Mom: Where is that?
Me: If you click on the little button in the bottom of the screen next to where it says start.
Mom: Internet explorer?
Me: No the next one.
Mom: Which button do I push?
Me: The left one
Mom: Nothing happens
Me: What do you mean nothing?
Mom: Well a small window pops up, is that the desktop?
Me: No, you are right clicking, you should click the left button.
Mom: But I am!
We go back an forth a little with me trying to convince her that she is pushing the right button. Then suddenly:
Mom: Ups everything disappeared and now there are only small icons, what did I do wrong?
Me: No that's it. You did it right, that's the desktop.
Mom: Ok, but that was the right button.
Me: Hmm weird, well anyway open your mail client, that's that icon I showed you, double click the left button.
Mom: ok, nothing happens that little box pops up again.
Me: Mom, I am telling you, you are clicking the right button. You need to click the left one.*
Mom: But I am, it's just really difficult.
Me: What do you mean difficult? You just double click on the left button.
Mom: I know, but this is not behaving like it used to
Me: What do you mean?
Mom: When I go up it goes down and it's really difficult to double click with my thumbs.
Me: Ahh
Of course I now realized what was going on. She had the mouse upside down. After that I could guide her the rest of the way.
I talked to my dad later that night and found out the problem.
Instead of the mouse cord going behind the desk and into the computer it went in front of the desk to the USB plug on the front of the computer.
So the mouse had ben pulled around but she didn't get that. She thought that was how things should be.
Mind you she had used it before.
My mom is not a complete moron, yet she didn't manage to realize the problem.
We take understanding how this stuff works for granted because we grew up with it and got a more holistic understanding of things related to computers. Our parents didn't.
I have often compared it with dropping a geek into the wilderness at the African savanna with a map that isn't correct. That is if you want to understand how it might feel for people that aren't doing this everyday.
As non natives in the wilderness we are forced to follow the map, but if the map is wrong what do we do (besides taking out the GPS obviously)
And the point is not really to treat her as a child, but to take her trough small natural steps in order to give her a more foundational understanding, while still enjoying the experience.
Some years ago I needed a file from my parents computer sent to me. I called my mother (father wasn't home) and asked her to send the file. I would guide her through the process.
The conversations went a little bit like this.
Me: Ok so you go to the desktop and open the mail client. Mom: I am at the desk Me: Not the desk, the desktop on the computer Mom: Where is that? Me: If you click on the little button in the bottom of the screen next to where it says start. Mom: Internet explorer? Me: No the next one. Mom: Which button do I push? Me: The left one Mom: Nothing happens Me: What do you mean nothing? Mom: Well a small window pops up, is that the desktop? Me: No, you are right clicking, you should click the left button. Mom: But I am!
We go back an forth a little with me trying to convince her that she is pushing the right button. Then suddenly:
Mom: Ups everything disappeared and now there are only small icons, what did I do wrong? Me: No that's it. You did it right, that's the desktop. Mom: Ok, but that was the right button. Me: Hmm weird, well anyway open your mail client, that's that icon I showed you, double click the left button. Mom: ok, nothing happens that little box pops up again. Me: Mom, I am telling you, you are clicking the right button. You need to click the left one.* Mom: But I am, it's just really difficult. Me: What do you mean difficult? You just double click on the left button. Mom: I know, but this is not behaving like it used to Me: What do you mean? Mom: When I go up it goes down and it's really difficult to double click with my thumbs.
Me: Ahh
Of course I now realized what was going on. She had the mouse upside down. After that I could guide her the rest of the way.
I talked to my dad later that night and found out the problem.
Instead of the mouse cord going behind the desk and into the computer it went in front of the desk to the USB plug on the front of the computer.
So the mouse had ben pulled around but she didn't get that. She thought that was how things should be.
Mind you she had used it before.
My mom is not a complete moron, yet she didn't manage to realize the problem.
We take understanding how this stuff works for granted because we grew up with it and got a more holistic understanding of things related to computers. Our parents didn't.
I have often compared it with dropping a geek into the wilderness at the African savanna with a map that isn't correct. That is if you want to understand how it might feel for people that aren't doing this everyday.
As non natives in the wilderness we are forced to follow the map, but if the map is wrong what do we do (besides taking out the GPS obviously)
And the point is not really to treat her as a child, but to take her trough small natural steps in order to give her a more foundational understanding, while still enjoying the experience.