Confusion reigns on the Internet for both beginner and intermediate level users. That shouldn't be so. Why? Perhaps because Website Developers have forgotten about the "little guy." That's the new user who has no tutor, and is intelligent, but hasn't had computer experience. The beginner may be over the age of 50 or over age 20. Unlike students Kindergarten through twelfth grade who receive training, the man or woman who has finally been financially able to purchase a computer, gets online and learns to use it "on the fly."

First, the beginner tries to learn the basics of email and dealing with attachments. Confusion reigns there. No longer do the ISP's (Internet Service Providers) provide easily understood instructions. Hope that the ISP is user-friendly because it's difficult to leave that one and go to another.

Secondly, the user starts using the search engine and again finds confusion. There are no clues about choosing the best words for the search. That is, not for the beginner; however, there's detailed information advanced searches. Should only one word be used to search, or are there better results when three or more are used? Is there a quick way to narrow a search for the new user wants to find "broomcorn in Oklahoma" quickly. How? The ISP does not provide 3 simple steps to narrow the search. By trial and error, it might be found. Confusion reigns.

As skill increases, the user begins to sign-up at various sites. It seems that the best idea is to keep the same User-name for all sites and chooses "Grinch321" with "Whoville" as the password. That's an easy process and it prevents confusion. The Webmaster makes it simple to retrieve a forgotten user-name or password.

Confusion creeps in periodically for an intermediate user. Even for those whose children or grandchildren have become "computer geeks." Their primary style of learning continues to be by trial-and-error even though communities often have training classes.

I suppose that, as time passes, users will just try harder. Grandparents, like me, will ask our grandchildren for help.

Learn more about this author, best4writing Ann Patterson.
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