Amateur Megalomania

Professionally, computers and software are not my job. As a hobby, I go a lot of tinkering, but I am by no means a guru. I consider myself more advanced than the average user, and probably a little ahead of the sophisticated user. I’m certainly not a guy who can tear down the inner workings of a driver file or hack around in the Registry without consequence.

My skill set has elevated me (by default) as the Extended Family Computer Help guy (my brother has been smart enough to play dumb). I build computers for family and friends, frequently tear them down and clean them, or upgrade components, and more often than I like, wipe the drive and rebuild the OS when the inevitable happens. I usually can’t go home to Toledo without carrying a repaired computer home, or bringing a new patient back for extended work, thanks to the latest banner ad that promises a free iPod if you punch the monkey. I used to hate it, but my skills have grown to where I enjoy it. I like to help where I can, and I’ve learned that I really do care about the experience people have with their PCs.

Of course I know about viruses, pop-ups, spyware and so on. I keep that stuff away from myself and family. I shouldn’t be surprised about my meeting a couple of weeks ago, but I was.

Waiting for people to trickle in to the meeting, two people started talking about recent computer problems at home. One had spent hours on the phone with his virus people, trying to figure out why his machine wouldn’t stop thrusting advertisements on his screen literally every few mouse clicks. The story prompted others to share similar experiences. As people entered the room, the session expanded, with more and more stories of how they can’t do anything on their home PCs, how their families constantly struggle with virus and spyware infiltration, and how in more than a few cases, people are literally giving up on even using their PCs anymore.

The tellers of these stories were smart professionals, but certainly not computer experts. They were average users without a knowledgeable friend to help them. They were reduced to paying for support, taking the box to Best Buy or wherever for repair, and shelling out a lot of money on commercial ‘fixes’. Listening to the stories, I got a glimpse of the world from their perspective and I was appalled. They literally had no recourse but to deal with crippled machines as best they can.

I know, I know. Blazing headline: “Blogger discovers the obvious!” This has been going on forever, and I know it has. I’ve just never taken the time to really look at it outside of my tool box of abilities.

If I didn’t know what I know, how would I cope with the state of affairs? The worst part of this experience was hearing people literally shutting down their computers and never going back. The entire world of the internet and computer technology had been abandoned because of usability. What a shame.

I’m not going to go down the tired road of bashing Microsoft, or promoting Apple, or pushing Linux distros for the masses (if these people aren’t up to dealing with AdAware, how do we expect them to wrap their head around the nuance of Linux?). Windows is targeted because Windows has 90% of the market. Stick any OS into that kind of market share and you’re going to see exploits popping up all over. Certainly Microsoft hasn’t helped themselves by coming late to the security scene, but you Apple people need to lay off your smugness until you have that kind of market and your OS survives.

Better minds than mine are working on how to help the people in my meeting. And better minds than theirs are working on how to push spam to the desktop in spite of all obstacles. I don’t know how to fix it from a global perspective. All I can do is try to take a few minutes from time to time and help someone. Not because I have a duty or some obligation (I am more of an Objectivist than anything else), but because I really do care about this for my own reasons. I think the technology enhances lives and informs people. To see someone turn away saddens me.

If you feel the same way, and you know someone struggling, take a couple of minutes and talk to them. It might be as simple as showing them a pop-up blocker or spyware scanner. Or Firefox. Simple things help.

Getting off the soap-box now…

Filed under: Science and Technology