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09/27/2001 Entry: "27-Sept-2001 -- XML-RPC and the Need to Cash In"

XML-RPC and the Need to Cash In -- "Everyone has been talking about simplicity. But simplicity is a very relative thing. We all know XML-RPC, we all know some aspects of XML, we all know how to code in something or other. But we're not recognizing the person who just called me and said she never knew her mouse had a right button for clicking." (Comments: You should definitely read this. It is all about usability, yet that word is never used. It is nice when geeks understand how humans will not be able use technology.)

Replies: 1 comment

I've worked in a computer store as well as customer support for the company I'm workin' at now. Many people still have fundamental problems with the basics of using computers. The most memorable things I've experienced:

- I once had to call an windows icon a a "tiny picture" 'cause the person didn't know what an icon was.
- "What's a browser?"
- "What's double-click?"
- "Does this have the latest version of the Internet on it?" (the man was showing me a floppy disk)
- One person I talked to didn't even know which version of Windows they were using. As everybody knows, Windows boots up with a big splash screen telling you which version it is... which begs the question... do they even know what "version" means?
- Nobody seems to know what the "Windows key" is.

The list goes on and on...

Posted by Francis @ 09/27/2001 10:46 PM EST

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