I’ve worked in computer support for the past eight years, both in my current job and as a student during college. Time and again, people of varying ages and ability levels ask me how I “got so good at computers.” The thing is, it’s not magic. It’s not years and years of arduous textbook study. When I, and people like me, sit down at a computer, we are doing precisely this:
XKCD's Tech Support Cheat Sheet
Now, before you protest that, “This is just a comic! It’s a joke! It’s an exaggeration!” Stop. I have never read something more true in my whole life.
All you need to do to become an expert at computers is to take risks. Funnily enough, that’s some pretty good advice for being successful at a lot of things. The more you take risks, click buttons, move icons around, and press strange combinations of keys on your keyboard, the more familiar you’ll become with what the results will be and they’ll help you take better, more informed risks the next time. Plus, it’s extremely unlikely that you’ll break something beyond repair. The world of technology changes quickly but once you get the hang of how files and folders work, you’ll be in pretty good shape when the next new computer or software program comes along.
It’s also worth noting that the flowchart above does suggest, after some trial and error, that you ask for help. I definitely don’t mind getting questions about computers as long as it’s clear that the person asking has genuinely tried on his or her own and wants to learn for the next time. Believe it or not, plenty of people ask me how to do something and then call me a week later with the same question.
Although computers can be a little bit intimidating, take heart: the newest products that Apple has put out in the last few years take a lot of the things that may have been confusing about computers in the past and put them behind shiny, easy-to-operate icons. We’re moving into a world where we may be more dependent on our technology but we’ll need to know the nitty-gritty of how those systems work just a little bit less.
So, what about you? What intimidates you most about the world of technology?
computers, discovery, exploration, personal development, risks
