[ruler88]

I found that 'tech education' has rarely been successful with my parents and some of their tech-less peers. What was interesting is that mobile technology changed the game for them. I used to set up skype, screenshare, etc on their latest computer but they would not even use them 'cause it is still too complicated. These days, they can easily use the latest communication tools on mobile apps. It is quite amazing how mobile app design has penetrated and entirely new segment of the population.

[jnbiche]

I agree 100%. The iPad/iPhone was the first computer my mother has successfully used without calling me every other day (or my Dad every other hour).

[neilsharma]

That's interesting. What do you think it is about smartphones that made it easier?

[gt2]

I would say minimizing the current context a person has to deal with. The most common places I see non-technical users fail is in multitasking multiple windows or browser tabs/windows. They get hidden, minimized, and we all know how on OSX the menu bar can be controls the last focused application, not necessarily the one that has the user's attention/is taking the majority of the screen. Lastly, sharing information between these applications.

With mobile, only 1 app is active at a time, and sharing information between apps is either seamless, or only requires a similar action on every app, the share icon, which presents a list of apps that the current app suggests sharing the data with.

[neilsharma]

I think you're on to something. Know of any ways to make a desktop experience enforce a single context? Essentially build a smartphone-like interface, except for desktops?