Ignorance Is Bliss For Computer Users
Let’s face it. None of us really have a clue about how our computers work or how they manage to stay operational.
I have a vague notion that there is something called a CPU in my computer spinning away, making it go. But that’s about it. I’d have better luck describing how a carburetor works.
It turns out that ignorance is more the norm than an exception, at least according to a recent poll from Framingham-based office supply giant Staples.
In The Dark
The poll, called the “Staples IT IQ Survey,” was conducted by Zogby International and surveyed more than 2,000 people about their IT savvy — or lack thereof.
One of the big blind spots the survey uncovered was the lack of backups. While 97 percent of respondents said they use their computers every day, less than 40 percent said they back up their computers at least once a week.
We are also in denial about malware, according to the survey. More than 80 percent of respondents said they believe their machines are pristine, meaning they are free of viruses, spyware or other malware. But that can’t be accurate, as experts say that nearly half of all personal computers in the United States are carrying some form of malware or another.
And let’s take a moment to dispel a virus myth, shall we? You don’t just get computer viruses from sites of ill-repute. Nowadays, according to a recent article in Wired Magazine, you are just as likely to pick up a virus from a popular national news site as you are a site that caters to prurient interests. So quit pretending like you’re not vulnerable.
And when it comes to actually fixing a computer problem, respondents to the survey were pretty helpless. Of those who said they weren’t comfortable fixing their own computer when a problem pops up, they said they’d rather visit the RMV or wait in bumper-to-bumper traffic than attempt to do it themselves.
So what do these survey results reveal? To me, they point to a real lack of understanding among Americans about how one of the most central tools to our lives work. And that can’t be a good thing. Maybe people should be required to get a license to drive a computer, just like they do a car. That way we’d keep the completely clueless from doing themselves or others damage. Could you imagine? Some day you’d have to report to an RMV-like agency (perhaps the Registry of Personal Computers) and take a test that asks you define RAM versus ROM. Then you’d have to take the computer out for a test drive with a certified instructor to prove you know how to send an email and avoid Nigerian scams.
Of course, that’s taking it a bit to the extreme. But I do think our schools could do a much better job of teaching our kids (and hey, why not the parents too?) of how a computer really works and what to do when there’s a problem. We send kids to driver’s education. Why not send them to PC education? I can see the educational videos now… “Johnny thought he was immune from viruses. Then one day, his entire hard drive was shredded and his identity was stolen by a felon in Kazakhstan.”
Side Note
I also wanted to take a moment in this column to acknowledge some sad news in the tech world. Cisco, which has major operations in Boxborough, recently announced that it plan to close its Flip video camera business as part of a broad restructuring that will include the reduction of 550 jobs. Cisco said it will refocus on its core businesses and move away from some of its consumer businesses, including the Flip.
Cisco bought the Flip camera name and technology when it acquired Pure Digital Technology in 2009. At the time, the company heralded the deal as “key to Cisco’s strategy.” So much for that.
I mention this only because I’m a big fan of the Flip. We use one here at the Worcester Business Journal to shoot video for WBJournal.com. The cameras are affordable and very easy to use. But it’s unclear what Cisco’s decision means for the cameras. Will they go the way of Beta tapes? Or will the technology be used in other Cisco products?
There’s a lot of speculation on the Internet right now about what Cisco was thinking and why it didn’t just flip the Flip business, but there aren’t a lot of answers. No matter what, I just wanted to lodge my vote to keep the Flip technology alive.
Got news for our Digital Diva column? E-mail Christina H. Davis at cdavis@wbjournal.com.
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