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From: greg@mind.UUCP (Greg Nowak)
Newsgroups: sci.philosophy.tech
Subject: Re: Just a test
Message-ID: <763@mind.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 19-May-87 11:12:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: mind.763
Posted: Tue May 19 11:12:55 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 20-May-87 04:50:19 EDT
References: <7585@orchid.UUCP> <3439@sunybcs.UUCP> <1767@kitty.UUCP> <312@phoenix.PRINCETON.EDU>
Reply-To: greg@mind.UUCP (Greg Nowak)
Distribution: sci
Organization: Cognitive Science, Princeton University
Lines: 43
Keywords: computers fright

In article <312@phoenix.PRINCETON.EDU> dykimber@phoenix.UUCP (Dan Kimberg) writes:
>In article <1767@kitty.UUCP> larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) writes:
>>	Example problem: How does one design a process control human interface
>>program for use by a 55 year old man who barely finished high school, still
>>refers to a computer as an "electronic brain", never used even a typewriter
>>in his whole life, is all thumbs, and thinks a menu is something to be found
>>in a restaurant?  Don't laugh; some of our systems are used by this kind of
>>person!
>
>My first reaction to your example
>problem is to think in terms of the iconic interfaces that are so popular.
>It would seem that it's much easier for people to adapt to a system that makes
>some steps towards adapting to them, i.e. emulating what they already know.  So,

And another technique is to limit the apparent generality of the machine ...
mechanics have been using "computerized diagnostics" for a long time
with no adverse reactions, because the diagnostic machines are limited
in scope; they're *not* perceived as "electronic brains" with mysterious
and unlimited powers.

If by iconic interfaces you meant mouse-accessible menus, there's a further
step you can take. Touch-sensitive screens, combined with graphics,
seem to remove most of the computer-phobia, and solve the problem of
access for those who can't type. Right off the bat, I could't guess whether
a mouse or a TSS would be easier to use for the phobic or the physically 
impaired, but I'd vote for the TSS. Strange how it's the *keyboard*,
and not rows of blinky lights, that now signal "computer" to most 
people ... a crt by itself is too much like a tv (remember "Brazil" ?)
to frighten people.

Personal note in support of activating this newsgroup: I'm a graduate student
in the History of Science Program at Princeton. Coming to the field
out of Mathematics, my perception of the sciences has been warped
to stress the philosophical over the technical component of 
scientific change and application. Only now am I realizing that "science"
came into existence during the Scientific/Industrial Revolutions as
the product of interactions between these two traditions... Any 
meditations on the relative importance of technology and philosophy
to the development are the sciences are welcome. And please post;
let's get this newsgroup flying!

Greg
 Nowak