Author: Tony Werten
Date: 23:34:57 04/06/04
Go up one level in this thread
On April 06, 2004 at 17:07:42, Sune Fischer wrote: >>>Editing one line in the winboard ini-file is not rocket science, not even for >>>techno-phobes I think. >> >>It's just something 99.9% of the customers is not capable of doing. > >You're just making up numbers, the number is distorted because you never hear >complaints from those who succeed. > >>First of all they have *no clue* that they must modify it. > >It is possible they have no clue, but then they won't have much use for a chess >engine either. It goes hand in hand at some level. > >>>Arena can scan your harddrive for available engines, so all you have to do is >>>download them and unzip them. >> >>You still must find that button to do it and know it has that capability or it >>won't succeed. > >Of course, and if they can't they have much bigger problems anyway, like how to >find the "power on" switch :) > >Seriously. >You are expecting programmers to design software for users >*) who are scared of techno, >*) who can't install from a CD, >*) who doesn't know what a file is, >*) who can't browse a menu and >*) who can't push buttons. > >Good luck writing software to these people, I give up on those. Unfortunately, not everybody can :( In addition, the software has to be idiotproof as well ie handle wrong input at the right places and right input at the wrong places. You'll be surprised how many people manage to enter a name on a field asking for a phone number. When writing software for a company, I always have to take into account that there are a even a few people that have trouble finding the power button. Trouble believing this ? 2 examples from my own experience. Me: ..., never mind. Can you reboot the computer ? Client: ???? Me: Ctrl-Alt-Del ? C: ???? M: Push the powerbutton twice, off and then on again, and wait for the computer to restart C: (After 2 secs) Done ! M: No, not the power button on the monitor but the one on the computer. C: There is no computer After checking at the site, I found the computer under his desk. M: Can you read me what's on the screen ? C: No M: Why not ? C: Sorry, I don't understand. M: Are there letters on the screen ? C: Yes M: Wich letters ? C: Sorry, I don't understand. M: For Christ sake, what's on the screen ? C: .. A small plant ? After checking at the site, I found out there was nothing wrong with the program but she had never done that work before. Somehow she expected the program to do her work anyway. ... and the person normally sitting there had put a small plant on top of the monitor. Tony > >Luckly, I think we are dealing with a minory among the computer chess interested >folks! > >-S.
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