Help!

I think a lot of people, self included, secretly believe that too much of today's technology is needlessly complicated. I've always been a believer that the ultimate goal has to be to make computer technology as simple (and transparent) to the user as television has done: when you click the TV remote "on," you don't care about the technology involved - you expect to see a picture, watch a show, and your expectations are met. Technology...well, see any entry on Windows Vista, for example. My computer does lots of cool things, and so does my cell phone and my laptop, but it's hardly at a TV level of simplicity.

Which brings us to a new study just released from the Pew Internet & American Life Project:

Some 48% of technology users usually need help from others to set up new devices or to show them how they function. Many tech users encounter problems with their cell phones, internet connections, and other gadgets. This, in turn, often leads to impatience and frustration as they try to get them fixed.

Uh huh. And only 28% fixed the problem themselves. We have a long long way to go...

Hat tip: Steve Rubel, via Twitter

NOTE - inadvertently posted this over at Classic Mysteries. My apologies to readers of both blogs.