Research, Technology, and Teamwork blog by Susie Wee

[#1]

I've been thinking about how different people use their computers. It occurs to me that there are at least three different ways that people use their computers: as a platform, as an appliance, or as a browser.

Some people use their computer as a platform. They get the computer with some base operating system and a handful of applications. Then, over time they continue to download and buy software to suit their needs and desires. Gamers certainly do this as they download and install new games. Photo and video buffs sometimes do this as they buy the newest multimedia editing software. As new software comes out, they buy or download it and get different uses out of their computers.

Some people use their computer as an appliance. They get the computer with an operating system and a handful of applications. Maybe they add a few more applications soon after original purchase. But once they get it set up, they pretty much use the computer "as is" for the rest of its lifetime. They may do a handful of things such as run a word processor, use email, and browse the web. I'm calling this an appliance because it's used in the same way again and again after the initial setup.

Some people use their computer primarily as a browser. Think about how much time you spend running applications on your computer (e.g., a word processor) vs. how much time you spend on services through your browser (e.g., in facebook, gmail, and flickr). Those who spend more than 80% of their time in the network are using it as a browser.

How do you use your computer?
What types of people use their computers in these different ways?
Do you agree with this classification?  Is this set of modes complete or are their other major modes of use to add to the list?

[#2]

I use my "computer" (an archaic name, perhaps) as a communicator. Just like I am doing now. It doesn't matter to me if the application was pre-installed, if it was downloaded later, or if it is a web interface. It actually doesn't matter if it is a PC or a smartphone or smoke signals for that matter. The application and hardware are the media, or the vehicle, if you will. The connection between me and the object of interest is most important.

[#3]

twistedpa1r: Good point. I definitely agree with your idea of understanding computer usage by human experience. Using a computer as a "communicator" is an important experience.

The reason I asked the question the way I did is because I'm trying to understand the implementation that different types of people tend to use- do people prefer to accomplish tasks through client software or through web-based services or are they agnostic like you? Is the preference different for different types of people?

Yes, the term "computer" really does sound archaic! It's come a long way to become the communicator!

[#4]

btw, my colleagues will be visiting you this week. I am sure that you will "knock their socks off" (is there an equivalent hockey term, btw?).

Jay Cee

[#5]

I think the definition of a "platform" evolves over the time. It is moving to higher and higher levels. At the "ancient" time, a machine/computer is considered as a platform. I still remember the time when I physically open the box to add memory, harddisk and display card. Later on, Operating system became a platform, just like what you described in the post. This is still true for many users today. Now the browser, which used to be just one application, is becoming the platform. Many services can be accomplished through browser, like SAP, database and etc. Next step, certain web applications may become a platform by itself, e.g., facebook, where developers are writing new applications on it.

Just my two cents...

[#6]

Jay Cee- So twistedpa1r is you! I actually didn't get to meet your colleagues, but they did meet with other colleagues of mine working on mobility. Thank you for visiting and commenting!

[#7]

Very nice thoughts and comments. Most people do not use computers forthe computing purpose. I believe they use a computer because it
provides a nice integration of browsers, communicators, and appliances etc. Most people need to use them from time to time. It is all-in-one service.

If people could be provided just email accessing when they need, and
the right appliances when they need, they would not feel the
difference whether with or without a computer. At least, I don't mind if it is a terminal or a computer as long as I can easily finish what I want to do. This seems to lead to the computing or service center that could provide such services. It is easy for them to be
all-in-one. It also has the mobility advantage if these services are
easy-to-access, cheap, fast, user-friendly, etc., which probably is the difficult part.

[#8]

Hi, I just wanted to comment that I use my laptop as all three simultaneously, and I create redundancy with other computers and consumer electronics devices. As a platform, sometimes I have to create media which require constant upgrades of applications coded with new features (Adobe CS3). But, I also use it as an appliance when it comes to more passive entertainment. I watch 90 percent of video, movies, tv shows on my laptop now (Sling Player). If I want to listen to music, I'll control the speakers with Sonos Desktop. Finally, all of my communique is browser-based with the occasional local back up (gmail, twitter). My iphone is an important mobile tool to all my cloud data which i prefer to local. I don't understand syncing. Its just unnecessary if data is hosted. What is needed now is to integrate the TV so it is not just a slave monitor but an active UI to my data. That would allow laptop to be more of a platform for media creation, etc. and let my TV be the appliance for better passive entertainment. All of them need to have the browser since I like to stay in touch. BTW, found your blog from the IEEE magazine, congrats on the publicity.

[#9]

zszhang- Very insightful comments on the evolution of the "platform". It is incredible to reflect on how the invention of the computer has led to so many levels of platforms of innovation. What will be the next platform beyond web applications (e.g., facebook)?

[#10]

sqchen: So you also see people using the computer for "communicating" more than "computing". It is a very interesting to think about the tension between "all-in-one" and "user-friendly"... Can this be achieved?

[#11]

kangham: You are a superuser and an interesting case study. I'd like to learn more about your A/V + IT setup.

You mention that you prefer the cloud to local. Are you "always connected"? How do you feel when you're occasionally disconnected?

I agree about wanting the TV more integrated and to be an active UI, as it seems like very valuable UI real estate. What types of inputs would you like from the TV- keyboard, remote, touch, gestures, ...?

Thanks for commenting and chasing this blog down from the IEEE article!

[#12]

Susie:

I must admit that I miss your writing.  Your posts have been interesting , insightful and quite useful.  Just the other day, I used one of your meeting tips, in fact.

I hope that your 'hiatus' is short and that you post again soon.

TwistedPair (JCS)

[#13]

Hi JCS!  Comment heard.  Thank you for this nice comment.  As a result, I just posted my first post in months!  Hope you're doing well!

[#14]

Pingback from  On Top of Splashtop  » Blog Archive   » PC usage as a platform, appliance and browser…

[#15]

I use my computer as a glorified typewritter :-) i got it at www.consumerdepot.com

[#16]

I saw the Moderro Xpack at the Web 2.0 show in New York and realized that many people actually do not know the difference between the three modes...the end user expectation is increasingly moving toward "it should just work."

biz.yahoo.com/.../150537.html

[#17]

what's a computer?

perhaps it's time to redefine computer, since it has the archaic context that it's a box that has a display, a keyboard and needs to be powered (and perhaps in today's world, networked)

if we can define computing from experience and scenario perspective, it's endless.

e.g. I make use of my PS3 to show my visitors my familiy photos and videos streamed from a home media server over the air. There's no one single box that provides the total experience, but a combination of technologies and hardwares.

I make use of my HTC Touch Pro to stay connected, reading email, receiving latest news through RSS feed, navigate around using the GPS. If we were to stick to the definition of a phone as a phone we know 10 years ago, we wouldn't be able to do all these mobility tasks in today's mobile gadget.

So I think we need to be driven by today and future's consumer experience (and perhaps "enterprise experience", if we need to stay relevant in the enterprise market), and from there, determine what kind of solutions and the corresponding technologies and platform to support these solutions.

[#18]

I agree with Kangham I use my Laptop for all three, and am trying to figure out if silverlight is the way to go or Adobe Flasher.

[#19]

Good tips and recommendation.I like it.

Thank you.

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[#20]

I guess they may do a handful of things such as run a word processor, use email, and browse the web. I'm calling this an appliance because it's used in the same way again and again after the initial setup.