--Rant on
For the most part this doesn't crop up too much here, I guess because people that would be inclined to participate in an online forum would have at least a modicum of tech savvy (you would think), but I have noticed a trend when most people ask me/others for help with their computer.
~75% CAD, Web Page, or Windows problems can be worked through by READING WHAT THE PROMPTS SAY, THINKING ABOUT THE OPTIONS, AND PICKING ONE. Some people say they're just not good with computers, but the funny thing is they make it a self-fulfilling prophecy. When a new set of prompts appears it is quite akin to a "calf looking at a new gate". Instead of attempting at all their eyes sort of gloss over, and instead of thinking about it / reading it at all they just shut down.
Most of Windows components run in the background these days, webpages are usually pretty stinking simple, I can quite understand the occaisonal hiccup with CAD at it is more complex - but it happens there too.
I try to not judge too quickly, but when people say they're not good with computers what I hear is "I'm not good at reading, thinking, and making a decision".
--Rant off
There should be a new rule of etiquette, though, you're prohibited from asking anyone for help until you have read the help manual and Googled the issue.
I do give older people a pass, though, because there is a marked difference with those that didn't "grow up with the technology". I'm just venting on here for a second because I would never say anything to anybody about it, I just try to smile, bite my tongue and help...
EDIT: I also am aware that I'm whining about something that people, for the most part, are completely incapable of changing.. 🙂
> I do give older people a pass, though, because there is a marked difference with those that didn't "grow up with the technology".
It could also be said that those same older people were in the room the day the first Commodore PET was rolled in. They have had the longest experience and the greatest opportunity.
Personal computers have been ubiquitous for, what, 30 years? They are not a fad that will pass like fins, Groom 'n Clean, and bell bottoms. If they have allowed themselves to be steamrolled by technology it is because they refused to learn and grow when they were quite young enough to do it.
:good:
" I have noticed a trend when most people ask me/others for help with their computer."
I must be alot stupider than everyone else on this site because I was under the impression that Beerleg encouraged everyone to participate and ask questions about anything profession related. There is no such thing as a stupid question, at least in my world.
Silly me. B-)
> .... I was under the impression that Beerleg encouraged everyone to participate and ask questions about anything profession related....
We all assume that a poster has made an effort to think and resolve routine matters for themselves before going to the SurveyorConnect well.
How dare you talk about my Wife like that! 😉
Seriously, She is her own worst enemy when it comes to computers.
James
I have helped a neighbor up the street from me in the past. She was one who had (nor has) a single solitary clue as to what error messages mean. Part of the problem is certainly the ability to comprehend read material. The other is simply not knowing any of the proper terminology.
When she would attempt to describe an issue to me, it might sound like "...the monitor...." when the issue would actually be related to a wire, the cpu, or something totally unrelated to what she was trying to communicate. Then she would wonder why I could not promptly guess at and resolve the issue.
I Predate The Commodore 64
Heck, I started with punch cards on an IBM 360, using Fortran IV.
First computer I bought was an HP 35, it was a computer not really a calculator. Memory was only 4 values, but it had memory, i.e. you could enter a value and come back to it later.
Next computer I bought was a KayPro II, 64K ram, 2 180K single sided floppy disks. It had a word processor and spreadsheet that exceeded my brain speed by far. $2400 and the dot matrix printer was $1200. I used it more for word processing than anything else at home. At work I used an IBM PC as a remote station for Bethlehem Steel's multiple array of IBM 360s/370s. I used the steel plant's weekly payroll data base from tape drives and created 20 plus page construction manpower reports every week. I started making those reports using punch card programs. The original program was written by Bethlehem Steel's Fabricated Steel Construction Division. FSC's first job of any merit was the Golden Gate bridge. I rewrote program parts and got corporate permission to maintain drum storage space and data mine the weekly payroll file of 4,000 employees, some with multiple work orders per day to create my report database. One day I decided to open a database file and look at my data. I was surprised that the file only had 3 lines of data, so I decided to scroll to the right and see how big a line was. Well I got 32,000 bytes in and saw no end to any line, so I quit.
I once did a three detention basin in series routing on a Trash 80. Did HEC 2 analysis using the original Corps of Engineers Fortran program.
In order to upgrade that program I convinced the Bethlehem Plant to contract IBM for "PROJACS" I believe. We were there first US customer. IBM ragged about the multiple language capability of that program but we were unable to get a Pennsylvania Dutch version. It urns out we ended up beta testing the English language version of that program. Had some problems with it, and one day got a call from the IT department. The program had crashed the multiple IBM computers that ran the Combination Steel Rolling mill at $50,000 per hour profit and the mill stopped working. After that we could only schedule the program to run on midnight shifts when the mills were not working. After one 8 hour run our IT department sent a complete data dump to IBM. The major problem was in the translation of one word from Italian to English. IBM compensated Bethlehem Steel for the CPU time which was a significant figure.
Since that time I have owned several IBM 286s, a 386SX and a DX, a 486, a 586, clones and Pentiums plus, plus, plus; about half parts built. DOS all the way up to 6.1, Windows from 1993 on. I learned AutoCAD on Version 2, have worked in 9 through 14, 2000, 2004, 2008 and lastly 2012. Personally own 10, 2000 and 2004. I worked in AutoCAD 12 DOS and 12 Windows, preferring DOS. Up through AutoCAD version 14 I preferred to do profile engineering calculations in my HP 41 and input the results into the dwg. I fried the motherboard on a 286 simply by plugging in a printer. The cleaning lady pulled plugs from the power strip for the vacuum and made a wrong guess replugging in the computer. That was what convinced that boss to wire the whole office for a network. Plotted a 24' long profile sheet at 1" 50' once. Did 350 lot subdivisions, survey, multiple plan sheets, plan and profile sheets and details in a single dwg. This included cross sections and templates, all in AutoCAD 10.
All I can say is the latest hardware software is still generally faster than I can think, whenever it finally decides to show up to work. I still pull the plug every night.
I am not impressed with what we have today.
Paul in PA
:good:
obviously though, I was referring to the non early adopters.
I wasn't referring to the people on here at all! Only the people I bump into at the office, and in my family.
I Predate The Commodore 64
Cool,
I first started programming in Basic when I was eight years old. I was too interested in fishing and hunting around the windows 3.11 time though and lost a few years but as it turns out I didn't miss much.
Bill...
Do you use Civil3D?
I Predate The Commodore 64
The first book my Dad gave me was the manual for the 360. I would go to the office with him and run the fish eye green screen for the card scanner. By age 12 I could slap a 10 key so fast you couldn't see my fingers. That was a very handy skill when the 11C came out...
I am in the camp that thinks us grey hairs should have a serious advantage over kids. We were there when 'it happened'. 'It' being the invention of the tools our kids take for granted...
Thanks for the memories, Tom
Personally, I have no problem with people asking dumb questions on websites and not reading the manual first. If people don't like it, they can just not respond instead of saying "why don't you read the manual".
Also, I can't remember the last time anything came with a manual.
Bill...
No surveyor should use Civil3D 🙂
