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1. nuxi (nuxi@mastodon.sdf.org)'s status on Thursday, 26-Dec-2024 20:43:28 JST nuxi

   • rob pike

   @robpike I see this most reflected in my Dad. He's a smart guy, but at 85, is swimming in a world of needless complexity. We took away always-on phones that just take a sequence of digits, and replaced them with ones that need to be charged, muted, unmuted, and rebooted. We replaced TV channels with apps, all with different and constantly shifting UIs. We replaced software with SAAS portals that are never the same from one day to the next, and require separate passwords. *I* can barely keep up.

   • Niki Tonsky repeated this.
   • Paul_IPv6 (paul_ipv6@infosec.exchange)'s status on Friday, 27-Dec-2024 17:36:52 JST Paul_IPv6

     in reply to

     • rob pike

     @nuxi @robpike

     +1000

     my mom is in her 80s and fights this stuff all the time.

     they took away buttons and it's all touch screens. her hands are very dry, so don't always register. they constantly change how to get to home screen (where do you start and end the swipe, again?), how to get to or switch apps.

     she can't bank, get a cab, or shop without web/app. said apps/websites change as often as the weather and with as little user input.

     her doctors all insist on text message or email for communication, web for any lab results. i shudder to think what adding AI to health care is going to do.

     humans always fear change but we do seem much more inclined to complicate tech rather than focusing on improving user experience.