Even though our computers are now better than 15 years ago, they still malfunction 11%–20% of the time, a new study from the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University concludes. The researchers behind the study therefore find that there are major gains to be achieved for society by rethinking the systems and involving users more in their development.

Even though our computers are now better than 15 years ago, they still malfunction 11%–20% of the time, a new study from the University of Copenhagen and Roskilde University concludes. The researchers behind the study therefore …

  • rowdy@lemmy.worldEnglish
    17·
    1 year ago

    Interesting but a seemingly flawed study.

    ~250 participants is not a lot. We have no information of the hardware they were using.

    Some participants were “IT professionals” yet no other qualifying credentials are given. Others are “highly proficient with computers”. How did they qualify that?

    Participants were told to report any issue they encountered - no specification on what qualifies. If you are participating in a study to report anything that frustrates you with a computer (which is already subjective) then of course you’re going to report at an increased rate versus what should actually qualify. PDF file take a few minutes to render? Was it because the computer had an issue? Or because the PDF was 800 pages of high quality pictures? Frustration does not equate to an issue.

    That being said, I work in IT and absolutely there are industry wide issues that need fixing. Most of it is not the fault of the computer systems - but of the client/user. So many of my clients are using archaic software (server OS, SQL front ends, list goes on). A refusal to address these issues is not the fault of the computer. Computer systems can only be as successful as you set them up to be. Don’t blame a machine for what is fundamentally a human problem.

  • blazarious@mylem.meEnglish
    8·
    1 year ago

    The problems most often experienced by the participants included: “the system was slow,” “the system froze temporarily,” “the system crashed,” “it is difficult to find things.”

    In case you were wondering what computer problems.

  • Eeyore_Syndrome@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    64·
    1 year ago

    “Universal Blue Kinoite or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Immutable Linux Desktop & Flatpaks”

    Universal Blue project Mission preface:

    Universal Blue project Values:

    “It is Fedora Silverblue/Kinoite/Serica with extra steps! …But also not.” -Me

    My write-up gist on GitHub:

    “It’s Chromebook easy, except it’s actually Cloud image based Fedora. Atomic updates, so easy. 🤯” -Me

    We don’t like the word immutable. It can confuse people.

    Or keep using windows and traditional Linux distros/installs and keep complaining >.>

    “BTW I wrote 90% of it on my beanbag on my steam deck.” -me

    Edit:

    If I came off as know it all computer nerd/ abrasive I apologize.

    I’m just really excited by the project.

    It exists entirely to end major pain points people are/were suffering from Linux distros. And to prove how easily it is to distribute images and build them utilizing the cloud.

    I feel it’s utterly ironic to down vote, as it’s litterly a solution approach to the entirewasting time fixing my computer issue of the OP post. 😲😔😅

    Legitimately etc of the study aside.

  • coffeewithalex@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    We have far more complex systems than 15 years ago. Complexity has skyrocketed because of human failures in designing optimal, elegant systems, but also because of premature optimisation, convenience, and security.

    To top it all off, literacy in computers hasn’t necessarily increased for the median user.

    But if 15 years ago computers had to be regularly restarted, Windows had notoriously frequent Blue Screen of Death, Linux was not really feasible as a desktop system for most people, today we’re doing much better.