Given the fact you’re here I’m going to go ahead an assume you know how to read. Congratulations! That puts you way ahead of many people that I deal with every day. I’m willing to bet it puts you way ahead of many people you run into every day as well.
An example would be every resident in this area who doesn’t comprehend the yield sign at a nearby traffic circle. I’ve seen many wrecks and near misses there.
Often I hear from friends and family that tech comes so easy to me. While it might look like it comes easy, that’s not always the case. I wasn’t born understanding a Lucent switch, Tellabs DACs, or Windows Vista. When I started learning wireless engineering I brought documents home to read every night, I came into the office early to read more and prepare for the day. I took every opportunity that was provided and ran with it as far as I could….and that always meant reading a ton.
Nope, the tech didn’t come natural, but my curiosity about it did. And I’ve found that every person who is good at what they do is normally extremely interested in what they do. Normally they’ve got to learn too, and often times it’s through reading and studying more in order to do better in their field.
Yesterday I hit one of those “mental walls”. I had the, “You’ve got to be kidding me” moment after several people that I dealt with made me think about reading. 3 different people with 3 different problems that all could have been solved by taking about 2 minutes to crack open some documentation.
I have the opportunity to deal with digital cameras on a regular basis at work. It’s nice. I get to check out the latest gear, and pass along my knowledge to others regarding what works and what doesn’t. Also, I sometimes help clients figure out what’s up with their camera. I had one of those opportunities yesterday.
A woman came to me with a really nice Sony digital camera. I’ve been impressed with several of the Sony’s, and I think they’re a pretty good camera. This particular camera had the option to add a wide angle adapter, and also offers an extended zoom adapter as well. Neat camera for sure. Not an SLR, but not a point and shoot either.
This person purchased a wide angle adapter from Sony last week, and had no idea what to do with it, so she stopped by to see me as a friend told her I could tell her anything about cameras. Ah, thanks for the confidence in me! :) Had I ever put a wide angle adapter on a Sony? Nope. Do I shoot with one on a regular basis? Nope. Have I ever read the Sony instruction manual? Nope.
So, the woman presented her camera, lens adapter, and all the gear that came with each item. I opened the sheet of paper regarding the adapter and couldn’t find the English version of the instructions. My client pointed out to me that it was hard to find the English explanation as well.
She had explained to me she was at her wits end. She spent a lot of time trying to figure it out, and all the instructions were useless. It sounded like hours were spent……I’m not so sure. I’ve observed people who immediately say they can’t figure a thing out. They give up pretty quick. Heck, when it comes to mechanical things I’m the same way…..no interest.
As I opened the little pamphlet for the lens adapter I saw a cute little picture on the front of the instructions. It showed the adapter getting screwed into another adapter piece that comes with the Sony. I asked her if she had that piece that came with the camera. She produced it and I connected the items together, then popped them on the camera. She looked shocked. She asked how I figured it out. I pointed to the extremely clear picture on the front of the instructions.
I’ll tell you what…..that instruction sheet was on super thin paper. Refolding it would leave wrinkles and creases…..the truth was that until that moment, those instructions were NEVER opened!
An embarrassed look came across her face. It took less than 2 minutes to figure out something I’d never worked with. Heck, I didn’t even need to read the English instructions. There was a super cool picture that a 5 year old could figure out. Kind of like a puzzle you piece together. You never get instructions for those! 
Here’s the deal, the instructions aren’t beyond any of us unless we decide they are. Most folks who complain to me about their tech produce instruction manuals that have clearly NEVER been opened. Of course you can’t figure it out, you didn’t read about it at all.
Everything I need to know (how to read) was learned in elementary school. :) The secret to being up on tech is simple. Interest and the ability to read. That’s all there is to it. Now if I could only become interested in engine repair…….well, that’s not going to happen now, is it? :) Rather read about HDR, cameras, switches, or networks…..or about hiking! 
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This is one reason Apple is so successful. They know that people, on the whole, don’t read documentation so they design their products to be intutitive to use and to simply work. Easy to say, very hard to do.
There are Yield signs at that traffic circle? Is that why you close your eyes and scream every time I drive through there? My bad…
SO…what happened with the lady with the Sony?
(Sorry, I stopped reading halfway down…Could you do pictures instead?
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Dagny…..Yup, that is a good point on Apple. The fun part, if owners do a little reading they’ll learn they’ve got one of the most powerful desktops out there….
Sadira….you noticed me closing my eyes and screaming?
LOL!
We’ll try to add more pictures again soon!
EVERY DAY somebody asks me why their printer won’t print. And EVERY DAY I have to log onto the printer to find out that it is flashing “Paper Out”. I feel your pain.
I understand your realization of how many people don’t read. OMG, It’s so apparent these days. Hubby and I are always reading something.You can learn so much from books!
Have a great weekend, Gadget!