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VOLUME 33-01 April 2017 LCACE.ORG

By Dick Maybach, Member, Brookdale Computer Users’ Group, NJ

November 2016 issue, BUG Bytes

www.bcug.com

n2nd (at) att.net

Computer programs can be complex and learning to use a new one can be difficult and frustrat-
ing.

Further, many hardware devices contain processors, making it easy for designers to add fea-
tures that can make them equally complex. My primary operating system is Linux, and I like to
explore new applications. These are usually free, and there are often several for every task,
usually with drastically different approaches. I also love such gadgets as digital cameras and
pocket GPS navigators. As a result, I am continually trying to master new programs and devices
and have worked out some methods of doing this.

There are many barriers that make the task diffi-
cult.
• Every designer has a different idea of
how a program or device should work,
and trying to use a new one the same
way you used an old one can be counter-
productive. Sometimes, the most difficult
part is unlearning what you think you
know, especially for experienced users
who may feel they should be able to fig-
ure out new software and hardware by
instinct.

• Different products can use different vo-
cabularies – for example “uploading”
sometime means importing information
into an application and sometimes export-
ing it.

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