When I worked in tech support I really had to be careful about words. Things like web browsers, the operating system’s name or even keys on the keyboard might feel natural to experienced computer users but they did confuse the hell out of the average user. Many did not know what the web browser was, could not say the name or version of their operating system or find the enter key on their keyboard. It was highly frustrating but one gets used to “baby-talking” them into revealing the information needed to do the job.
It was a funny time back then especially considering that these inexperienced users where doing some highly sensitive stuff on the Internet including Internet banking.
Google, the makers of the Google Browser, went to Time Square, New York to find out the answer to the question “What is a browser”. They asked 50 random people on the street and the results reminded me of the time I worked in tech support.
Here are some top answers:
- A search engine
- A website that you can search on
- A browser is when you know what you are looking for and a search engine is when you search something
- A way to get on
Many tech users have a hard time adjusting to this. Not that they have to at all times as it depends on their audience. A room full of tech savvy users will use terms like browsers, network, internet all the time. Many non-tech savvy people just use. They do not care how it is called or what else you can do with it. They simply want to perform the two or three basic tasks that they want to do with a computer and that’s it.
What’s your experience?
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11 Responses to “What Is A Browser”
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[...] remember the survey that Google conducted in New York a while back asking random people passing by what a web browser is. It was not that surprising, at least for tech savvy users who have to carefully word their [...]
“which browser did you use?”
“I use Google..”
WOW!
- What browser do you use?
- The big “E”
LOL
Conclusion:
People is stupid, maybe it wouldn’t be stupid to start phishing? (No, don’t worry, im one of the “good guys”)
Hilarious and sooo stupid stupid, totally loved the Google for the answer =D I have no idea, how could they even think about Google being a browser. =D
Im giving away free rapidshare premium account:
http://www.gravityblue.com/2009/06/22/win-free-rapidshare-accounts/
And this is why I can _NEVER_ work as tech support. I get an urge to beat them when they don’t know basics. FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU
I guess I could work as tech support for “smarter” people.
“C – h – r – o – m – e ? Nope.”
OK, seeing Windows all over the place day by day, it’s no wonder they’ve don’t know what Unix is for example. But not knowing what a browser is.. that gives me goose bumps. All the more these people haven’t the least clue what Opera is for instance.
This is hardly conceivable but I bet ya there are videos out there of geeks and tech savvys being laughed at for dozens of similar reasons.
Still, I don’t get it. :-D
The stupid….it hurts.
Are the people “stupid” or could they just give a crap less? Be happy there’s such ignorance amongst the public it keeps many of us employed. I’ve seen these same people do amazing things in Excel and Quickbooks so I guess it’s just what you know.