(no subject)
Sep. 28th, 2006 11:35 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
guinevere33.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
techrecoveryI work as a researcher in a biology lab. Because we do a lot of high throughput genomics, we're heavy on tech-savy folks, even if there are still people afraid of a 2-button mouse. Last week at lab meeting, we were all told that the entire university is switching over to using a web portal to order supplies, and that we'd be trained on it today. Imagine my joy when I found out that our "trainer" was a man who should have had his PC license revoked long ago.
First of all, he couldn't figure out how to get his Dell laptop hooked up to the wireless in the conference room (granted it was password-protected, but he didn't even get that far before floundering). So we handed him the CAT-5 plugged into the wall socket, and he still couldn't figure it out. "It still says it can't connect to the wireless internet!" Yes, that's because it's plugged in to the WALL...nevermind. So the person sitting next to him loaned him his Mac laptop, all plugged in to the interweb and ready to go. Whereupon he was unable to figure out the trackpad. He kept highlighting things all over the screen when he tried to move the mouse pointer. So he just ignored the fuscia highlighting all over the website and plowed forward. Throughout his "presentation", tabs in Firefox completely flumoxed him - we went several rounds with the "Close all tabs?" dialog box. Worst of all, he deferred any moderately complex question about the web interface itself to his associate sitting at the back (and why exactly wasn't HE the one giving the talk?). And then had the nerve to tell us to call him if we had any questions about how to use it.
I want to hurt this man until he gives me that hour of my life back.
First of all, he couldn't figure out how to get his Dell laptop hooked up to the wireless in the conference room (granted it was password-protected, but he didn't even get that far before floundering). So we handed him the CAT-5 plugged into the wall socket, and he still couldn't figure it out. "It still says it can't connect to the wireless internet!" Yes, that's because it's plugged in to the WALL...nevermind. So the person sitting next to him loaned him his Mac laptop, all plugged in to the interweb and ready to go. Whereupon he was unable to figure out the trackpad. He kept highlighting things all over the screen when he tried to move the mouse pointer. So he just ignored the fuscia highlighting all over the website and plowed forward. Throughout his "presentation", tabs in Firefox completely flumoxed him - we went several rounds with the "Close all tabs?" dialog box. Worst of all, he deferred any moderately complex question about the web interface itself to his associate sitting at the back (and why exactly wasn't HE the one giving the talk?). And then had the nerve to tell us to call him if we had any questions about how to use it.
I want to hurt this man until he gives me that hour of my life back.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-28 04:39 pm (UTC)Now, I work in an academic research building. The people here have, at the very least, two degrees. Most have a doctorate in how to make human beings and things with four asses. Yet when it comes to reading their email they become the worst sort of luser. The one who either knows it all (and doesn't) or treats the keyboard like the floor of a temple Indiana Jones has taken an interest in.
just so you know
Date: 2006-09-28 07:40 pm (UTC)Because oh, how I wish I had one....
Re: just so you know
Date: 2006-09-28 10:22 pm (UTC)