Dealing with our 'computer says no' moments

Credit: Pxhere/Mohamed Hassan

Do you remember the comedy sketch series Little Britain? It was a television comedy series written and starring Matt Lucas and David Walliams, playing a variety of characters playing up to various exaggerated stereotypes.  

The series will be 20 years old next year (where does the time go?) and is now unfamiliar to many younger television viewers.  

David Walliams. Credit: Sean Reynolds, Liverpool

One of those sketches features Walliams as an emotionless and officious bank clerk, tapping a keyboard, and whose only response to customers’ requests is: “Computer says no!” 

The phrase has worked its way into our everyday language. It means complete inflexibility citing bureaucratic or technological reasons. 

It is trusting technology over ourselves, something people do every day in life, sometimes with slapstick consequences.

As technical creators, we need to have our own conversion moment from the 'computer says no' mentality.

 

Sometimes we become slaves to technology, instead of getting the technology to work for us.  

In discussions during our MA programme in Technical Communication and E-Learning at the University of Limerick, lecturers have pointed out to us that technology updates and changes regularly. Our course focuses in heavier detail on the ideas, the competencies, the skills.  

While it is helpful and important to be up to date with industry computer hardware and software, technology is just a tool. What is more important is that we have the skills to use the tool. 

Credit: Pxhere

We will hit roadblocks during our career. Even creating a blog, there’s roadblocks along the way, dealing with the technology and tools. When creating a blog, the tools can be a source of frustration. If we are not careful, we are trying to adapt our work for the tool, instead of making it work for us.

The tools will change, and ultimately become obsolete. We don't have to.  In technical communication and e-learning, I believe it is important to trust our own judgement sometimes.