Journalism Without Journalists

Date: Thu, 20 Jul 1995 12:23:49 -0500 (CDT)
To: nicholas@media.mit.edu
From: c655493@showme.missouri.edu
Subject: Training computers
X-UIDL: 805309723.000

Professor Negroponte

Well, I managed to read your last message without becoming too depressed. Actually, I find all of this change to be exciting. I just may have a hard time finding a job when it's all over. Oh well, I can always hope someone will pick up my freelance stuff off the Net.

In reading your last message, I began to wonder how many people are going to take the time to train their computer. For instance, I have a cat. I got a cat because, due to past experience, I knew I did not have the time or the inclination to train a dog. I've had my cat for over three years, and she remains to this day thoroughly untrained and undisciplined.

Now, some people are willing to train dogs, obviously, but there is a fairly set way to do it and a good reward -- companionship -- in return.

I understand the benefits that people will get from training their computers. And I can see some "dog people" who will have the patience and the time to do so, but what about us "cat people?" (Or no pet people?) I experience enough frustration just trying to get my computer to print my papers. I think many people would say they would rather swallow nails than sit in front of a computer all day trying to get it to understand them.

Troy

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