Archived Abstracts
How User-Friendly Operating Systems and Interfaces Make Technology Harder for Everyone
Location
Room 232, Schewel Hall
Access Type
Campus Access Only
Entry Number
66
Start Date
4-8-2020 10:15 AM
End Date
4-8-2020 10:30 AM
Department
Computer Science
Abstract
This thesis explored modern trends in different operating systems. By doing so, the hope was to determine examples of operating systems features that hide functionality from the user. The argument is then made that, by hiding these features instead of correctly educating users about how these features are meant to work, or at least how they could be used, the extra effort spent to hide these features is wasted. System programmers who program the operating systems, as well as the users who contentedly utilize their operating system are put under unnecessary strain. Both groups have life made more difficult due to the efforts spent by system programmers to hide functionality and features in the hopes of removing the possibility of errors. However, if by implementing wide-spread “Computational Thinking”, users can better understand what computers do and how they function. Educating users of the systems can remove the fear of fatal error instead of removing the access to the function that may cause fatal error. With the education in place, system programmers can release better functionality for users who understand how to personally optimize their system, or those who wish to customize their own PC with small changes to system settings.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Dr. Will Briggs Dr. Barry Lobb Dr. Nancy Cowden
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How User-Friendly Operating Systems and Interfaces Make Technology Harder for Everyone
Room 232, Schewel Hall
This thesis explored modern trends in different operating systems. By doing so, the hope was to determine examples of operating systems features that hide functionality from the user. The argument is then made that, by hiding these features instead of correctly educating users about how these features are meant to work, or at least how they could be used, the extra effort spent to hide these features is wasted. System programmers who program the operating systems, as well as the users who contentedly utilize their operating system are put under unnecessary strain. Both groups have life made more difficult due to the efforts spent by system programmers to hide functionality and features in the hopes of removing the possibility of errors. However, if by implementing wide-spread “Computational Thinking”, users can better understand what computers do and how they function. Educating users of the systems can remove the fear of fatal error instead of removing the access to the function that may cause fatal error. With the education in place, system programmers can release better functionality for users who understand how to personally optimize their system, or those who wish to customize their own PC with small changes to system settings.