Darren New <dne### [at] sanrrcom> wrote:
> Kenneth wrote:
> > Probably the same for most older adults across the globe.
>
> On the other hand, the kids operate the computers as easily as the older
> generations operate the television.  Is this really a problem worth solving,
> in a corporate financial business-plan sense?

Good question. Problem is, there isn't any kind of easily-understood *machine*
available for the segment of the global population that didn't grow up with
computer technology (albeit a decreasing minority.) It's currently a
one-size-fits-all situation...probably driven by financial statistics, as you
say. Families with kids are the lucky ones--the kids show their befuddled
parents how to work the thing!

> The problem is that anyone only uses 5% of the capabilities, but it's always
> a different 5%.

For 'technically-literate' folks, I would agree. But I wonder about all the
others (a majority? a minority?). For them, I would guess it's about the 'same'
5%--with a deviation of maybe 1% within that. Web surfing, e-mailing,
photo-printing, the occasional 'Mom-and-Pop' application, etc.

Hmm, the iPad doesn't even cover *that* small footprint, AFAIK.

> People expect their home electronics to just *work*. You can do that by
> limiting their usefulness, or by getting so many people using the same thing
> that the bugs get shaken out.

Pity the poor end-users--we are the guinea pigs in this ever-continuing
'experiment.' ;-)

Ken

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