by Ryan Huffman
One of my college professors once said, “Computers only do what they are told to do.” We might not always intend to tell a computer to do something, and it might feel like we’re moving further away as we approach something approximating machine sentience, but I still think it largely holds true. To clarify, that responsibility doesn’t just fall on the end user. If there’s a bug in the programming or a flaw in the hardware, unexpected results can occur, and it feels like the technology is acting against us. But at the end of the day, what we’re experiencing is human error further up the supply chain, not a processor living out a Batman villain story arc.
If it’s difficult to know whether it was the user or something in the programming, where does that leave users when something goes wrong? In a general sense, trying to answer that question is a big part of my job. When something goes unexpectedly with a computer, I’m told the user’s expectations, the user’s (perceived) actions, and the actual result. Then I look for the “computer’s side of the story”. I’m not advocating for the “fair and just treatment of computers,” but that information is important because of the three basic failure points I mentioned: bad hardware, bad software, or user error. Users generally assume the first two, but sometimes the evidence points to the last one. Sometimes a computer needs to be replaced, sometimes a program needs to be updated, and sometimes a user needs more education to reliably get the expected results.
It’s easy to get mad at the device for not doing what we thought we asked it to do. It’s the most immediately present target but aside from the catharsis, has it ever done any good to run a computer over with a 15-ton city bus? No. Also, please don’t do that. Though it’s not always easy to admit fault, since users are always a potential failure point, one of the most important things one can do to minimize the chances of causing their own problems is to keep their digital literacy skills up. According to a report published by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development in 2019, the percentage of working U.S. adults without functional digital literacy skills could be as high as 35%! That’s not good.
The library hosts programming to help promote digital literacy, like one-on-one tech help and group learning opportunities. Check the event calendar on our website and filter by “Program Type: Technology Class” to see the different offerings and locations. We also offer self-guided learning opportunities through e-resources like NicheAcademy and GETSETUP for 55+ patrons. Since most people don’t have a personal IT department, it often falls on the end user to eliminate a lot of headache, frustration, time, and occasionally money by knowing how to use our devices most effectively to get the results we expect. For those who don’t have a clue where to begin, stopping by the library is a great first step.
Ryan Huffman is Computer Systems Director for the Adams County Library System.