by Larry Wiggins

Created on: January 25, 2009   Last Updated: September 08, 2009

"I hate computers!" I bet I say this phrase at least once a day. Some days I scream the phrase loudly and other days I just mutter it under my breath. I hate computers but I also love computers. I have worked professionally with computers for over thirty years. I use a computer in the office all day and more often than not, I will go home and do something on a computer there.

Computers frustrate me but I also use them as a tool. I would not want to return to a time without computers. The computer is useful for information and for recreation.

I do not think this attitude is unique. Most people who work with computers develop a love/hate relationship with them. What causes this often intense relationship? Over the years, I have encountered many reasons for the frustrations. These frustrations may vary from user to user. It is even possible for an experienced user to be more frustrated than a new computer user.

More experienced users have the basic knowledge of their programs but always seem to want a little more from the programs. Often these advanced features are available, but not in the manner the user expected. The frustrations are relieved by the user finding the correct combination of inputs and seeing the desired results. Often this satisfaction is short-lived, since the user moves on to the next issue that may be even more difficult to solve.

New users often believe that computers are smart and help accomplish tasks much better than they could without the computer. For these users, the inability to make the computer understand their problems is frustrating. Easing these frustrations is usually accomplished by learning more about the program that is used and its operating procedures.

Often our frustrations arise from the unrealistic expectation of a computer being smart. In reality a computer is only as smart as the person who programmed it. Over time, the programming has improved. Many innovations and common practices have made computers easier to use but there still remains an element of frustration.

How then should a user deal with these frustrations? My first recommendation is to have the most up-to-date hardware and software. The software and hardware should be chosen by their function. Does the software perform the required tasks? Is the hardware platform the best one for the application? Generally the hardware should match the type of computer with which the user is already familiar, either at work, school or other activity.

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