Do Software Engineers Contribute To Technophobia?
September doesn’t just mean back to school for the kids, most of the professional world will be dealing with the learning curve and the technophobia introduced by computer programmers and web designers for the last quarter of the year.
While I understand the need for fresh looks and innovative ideas, finding an engineer that respects familiarity as it relates to practicality is a rarity. When you’re the middle man between non-technical folk and the engineers who seem to be reinventing the wheel you develop a deeper appreciation for why people are afraid of technology.
I’m tired of hearing all about Facebook from journalists who are busy quoting the users who’ve made that social network what it is today. If I want to know how disgusted people are with the changes all I have to do is log in.
Changes Require Training
In the professional world upgrades usually require training at some level. I’ve sat in many classes alongside the engineers responsible for administration listening to intelligent questions about the design.
From the top down unless changes are explained adequately the end result will be frustration. From the bottom up the average user looks at the situation with some degree of fear and with the right amount of education they’ll work their way up to frustration.
Consumer based applications for example may roll out upgrades every year or two and the manuals are usually just as big for each revision. Other products may include the tech guides along with the software or on a related website.
User Friendly Competition
While I still speak to people who yearn for the old days where everything was done with paper and pencil they don’t really have to think long about how impractical that would be to their job or business. As long as they can confidently manipulate the tools, technology will enhance their capability.
Computers and the software we use are primarily intended to allow us to do more than we should be capable of doing. Software engineers must balance how well their product performs a certain function and how easy or enjoyable users find it.
Technology has exploded the ‘How To’ industry and finding answers is faster than ever before thanks to the internet. The internet also introduces alternatives for business owners who are tired of fighting with an application that just doesn’t measure up to their expectations.
‘I’m Just Not Technical’
For tech support professionals that statement is a red flag meaning even if you go slow and avoid tech-speak they still won’t get it. Fear is one of the most debilitating emotions humans have to deal with and although it’s usually irrational, it’s always real.
My fear of indoor plumbing repair has more to do with my lack of desire than the expectation that things will go terribly wrong. People that are afraid of technology in all likelihood have had something go terribly wrong and justify their fears that it will happen again.
Professional plumbers laugh and tell stories about horrible experiences they’ve had. Tech support professionals post their horror stories online. When those experiences become common they lose the fear factor.
Taking Responsibility
While it’s easy to blame software engineers for making our lives miserable because we can’t do what we used to be able to do before the upgrade, they certainly don’t want to instill fear. Since productivity is so easily measured these days most companies that are producing software focus on the usability of their product.
It isn’t necessary to have group therapy for everyone suffering from technophobia, unless that therapy includes some practical training. Discovering how to overcome technophobia isn’t that complicated providing you maintain a teachable spirit.
If the tools you’re working with are bringing the level of success you expect, don’t try to fix it. If you must upgrade, educate yourself first to avoid technophobia. The monster in your computer isn’t scary when you know it before it gets there.
