This was one of the things that we old codgers used to encounter when trying to introduce the first generations of computing devices.
By which I'm mainly referring to the workplace, partly because in those days only cashed up enthusiasts had a computer at home - and they were happy just having it do anything it was told.
But at the workplace there were many who were used to doing things with devices that inherently worked immediately on something. Such as a typewriter. I vividly recall early days of feeling clever setting up word processor mail merges and being able to print hundreds of letters. But that was of no value at all to crusty long serving staff who had their pre-printed letter stock and merely put them into a typewriter to bash the keys to add unique names and addresses.
The crunch point would come when some last minute minor change was needed - say, with a small stack of ready to go letters. Each could be quickly put in the device and have a word added or overtyped and then out they could go.
Of course, the computerised replacement method required binning the set and reprinting a fresh set. Yes, that wasted some paper - and in the days of dot matrix and daisy-wheel printers might not have been any quicker - but overall it took less effort to just press a button to generate.
Gradually, the typewriters vanished - and to some degree the staff who were familiar with them. Those that remained however could never switch off that just-insert-line-up-and-type way of tackling things.
That's when you would hear the desultory cry of "But I just want to.."
It's worth noting, that something which proved very problematic for years with computers and printers - was labelling. I can't even guess how many hours of fiddling I did for years to achieve various amounts of sticky label printing with various amounts of grief. I distinctly recall "suspending" a dot matrix printer as I left the office two days running with all the printer and computer power switches stickey-taped to stop cleaners affecting it as I had it gradually munch through a single un-restartable letter printer run.
Later, I recall hearing the "But I just want to.." refrain all over again as computers started getting internal modems with the ability to send and receive faxes. Short of dedicating a computer to the function I never saw a single setup that a non-technical user could manage. That's quite a feat considering that this was the whole reason that fax machines conquered the market while we tech types were blathering about email between not-yet-internet computers.
If we jump forward in time, perhaps the latest version of the syndrome is the poor soul who has had their simple mobile phone replaced by a smartphone and is now crying out with "But I just want to make a phone call!"
By which I'm mainly referring to the workplace, partly because in those days only cashed up enthusiasts had a computer at home - and they were happy just having it do anything it was told.
But at the workplace there were many who were used to doing things with devices that inherently worked immediately on something. Such as a typewriter. I vividly recall early days of feeling clever setting up word processor mail merges and being able to print hundreds of letters. But that was of no value at all to crusty long serving staff who had their pre-printed letter stock and merely put them into a typewriter to bash the keys to add unique names and addresses.
The crunch point would come when some last minute minor change was needed - say, with a small stack of ready to go letters. Each could be quickly put in the device and have a word added or overtyped and then out they could go.
Of course, the computerised replacement method required binning the set and reprinting a fresh set. Yes, that wasted some paper - and in the days of dot matrix and daisy-wheel printers might not have been any quicker - but overall it took less effort to just press a button to generate.
Gradually, the typewriters vanished - and to some degree the staff who were familiar with them. Those that remained however could never switch off that just-insert-line-up-and-type way of tackling things.
That's when you would hear the desultory cry of "But I just want to.."
It's worth noting, that something which proved very problematic for years with computers and printers - was labelling. I can't even guess how many hours of fiddling I did for years to achieve various amounts of sticky label printing with various amounts of grief. I distinctly recall "suspending" a dot matrix printer as I left the office two days running with all the printer and computer power switches stickey-taped to stop cleaners affecting it as I had it gradually munch through a single un-restartable letter printer run.
Later, I recall hearing the "But I just want to.." refrain all over again as computers started getting internal modems with the ability to send and receive faxes. Short of dedicating a computer to the function I never saw a single setup that a non-technical user could manage. That's quite a feat considering that this was the whole reason that fax machines conquered the market while we tech types were blathering about email between not-yet-internet computers.
If we jump forward in time, perhaps the latest version of the syndrome is the poor soul who has had their simple mobile phone replaced by a smartphone and is now crying out with "But I just want to make a phone call!"
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