From: stephen@sprunk.org   
      
   On 30-Jun-14 16:28, hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:   
   > On Sunday, June 29, 2014 12:38:21 PM UTC-4, Stephen Sprunk wrote:   
   >> A normal phone is expected to be usable with zero training, and   
   >> that limits how complicated the interface can be.   
   >   
   > Every telephone set requires some training to use it.  However, most   
   > people get this training as young children, so it is not a big deal   
   > to them.   
      
   Good point.   
      
   > Presumably, a kid on getting his first phone will already know from   
   > his friends or will learn quickly how to use the various functions   
   > beyond merely making a call.   
      
   Younger folks are also a lot more exploratory when they encounter a new   
   gadget, whereas older ones tend to expect formal training or manuals   
   because they are afraid of "breaking" something.   
      
   > The once-common six-key business telephone set required some training   
   > to first-time users, but the functions were simple enough that the   
   > training was very brief.  More time was spent on explaining features   
   > unique to that particular business, such as intercom destinations and   
   > use of different lines.   
      
   Indeed; those phones were pretty simple once you grasped the concept of   
   a phone with multiple lines available--something that few if any homes   
   had at the time.   
      
   > Today's modern phones, even modern analog units, have a zillion   
   > features that take a few minutes for first time users to learn,   
   > beyond making calls.  Further, some time must be invested in   
   > personalizing the phone's set up if they want, say a custom ring tone   
   > or how to format the display screen to their liking.   
      
   Most users don't bother, and a lot of effort goes into making the   
   interface as intuitive as possible so they don't have to.  And while   
   there are variations between vendors, if you have even a rudimentary   
   grasp of how to use one office phone, you should be able to fairly   
   quickly figure out how to use the same features of a different one.   
      
   Most advanced features tend to only be used by attendants because   
   they're the only ones with enough call volume to make learning how to   
   use those features worth the effort.   
      
   S   
      
   --   
   Stephen Sprunk         "God does not play dice."  --Albert Einstein   
   CCIE #3723         "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the   
   K5SSS        dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking   
      
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