Archive: Opinions

I started the Windows 10 upgrade around 11:30 this morning.  At the moment it is after 4pm and the blue screen has been displaying a message saying, "Working on updates  76% -- Don't turn off your PC.  This will take a while."  Of course this means I can't use my PC today.  As it happens I do most of my work on a Mac, but I do feel sorry for the majority of people, so many of whom are trying to update Windows on the 1 year anniversary of Windows 10.

While I am waiting I tried logging into my online Social Security account.  The other day I got an email saying they have upgraded their security, and now when you log in you not only enter your user name and password, but the system has to send a text to your cell phone with a security code number that you type into your browser before it will let you in to your account information.  The only problem was that the system wasn't working.  So nobody could see their account information that day.  I don't really need to see mine, but since I'm waiting for Windows  today I figured I'd try.  This time it worked, and after being forced to change my password and read a lot of small print I can't see, I could finally see my information I don't need to see right now.  My password has to have at least one upper case letter and a symbol and some other stuff including duct tape and the kitchen sink.

Life being this difficult seems to be because of hackers and thieves and terrorists.  I mean, we wouldn't even need passwords if everyone were honest.  Why is life so complicated?

I ask myself that question a lot.  For years I was a computer programmer, and I always reminded myself, 'if a computer can do it, the computer should do it."  It was a mantra that meant fewer clicks for the user, and less hassle in general.  It meant that as much as I was capable of doing it, I would make the user experience work the way the user wanted it to work.  Certainly that lofty goal was limited by my capabilities, but I did my best and it made my software better.

For you youngn's out there 'software' is now called apps.  We used to have to say, "There's a software application for that."  Now we just say, "There's an app for that."  See how that works?  The new language is better because we used to have to say 13 syllables to say what we can now say in five.  Saving syllables is important.

Most good software pops up messages telling you what's wrong when it gets hung up, and uses what is called a 'timeout' -- a period of time after which whatever the computer is doing is stopped, or at least something happens to make the experience explicable, if not better.  You would think with all the really smart programmers Microsoft employs that after a reasonable timeout when Update is stuck at 76% a message could pop onto the screen explaining what the holdup is.  I searched for this problem on the Internet, and there are people who said to let it run for two or three days and then the update would complete.  That is an awfully long time for an update.  But when the screen says, "Do not turn off your PC" you have to think that doing so will make matters worse.

So, the next time I logged into the Social Security site -- Windows is still cranking away trying to update itself -- I clicked log in and it took me to a screen that, among other things had a button that said Log In or Sign Up, and finally to the login screen.  This time it remembered my phone number, but required me to confirm it was correct.  Then it sent the eight digit code to my phone, and squinting I tried reading it so I could type it into the computer.  Then it made me agree to the terms of service, even though I did that ten minutes ago when I logged in the other time.  Finally I was in.

You don't have to be old to have this pet peeve: why is the print on medicine bottles so small that even a young person can't read it?  And how do you expect an old person to read it, even though that person is probably the exact person who needs the information so (s)he doesn't kill himself with an overdose?  It's that kind of thinking that the SSA login is using -- make things as complicated as possible for older people.  What the heck, they probably have time to obsess over these tasks that are getting in the way of what they wanted to do in the first place.

Like Windows 10.  I have long felt that Windows puts the programmer mentality ahead of the user mentality.  Otherwise why would it put up all those warning messages.  Are you sure?  (OK) (Cancel).  Are you really sure?  (OK) (Cancel).  Are you really, really sure?  (OK) (Cancel).

What I am sure of is that I actually have some work to do on that computer tomorrow, and I am really, really not sure whether I will be able to do it.  it's nearly 5pm now, and, phew!  The Windows update is at 76%.

I recently saw a meme that said, "The stupidest thing I ever did was become an adult."  I can relate.  Was life always this complicated?  Does it really have to be?

Please don't turn off your PC while Windows ponders the answer.

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