Explaining what a browser is to non-techies

A lot of people of all ages don't know what a Web browser is. They use one (or a few) all the time, but possibly couldn't describe the difference between a Web browser and a Website or search engine. This is not to judge; I drive a car every day and I have no idea how some parts of a car work.

The quick and dirty way to differentiate a browser from every other type of application (program) is that browsers have an address bar that entails "http" in the address. It is likely that no other application in a user's life has this characteristic. 

The most common mixup is between Google and browsers. Add the fact that Google makes a search engine (Chrome) and you have a recipe for confusion. I explain that search engines are frighteningly intelligent and browsers are almost completely dumb. 

Show the user that regardless of which Website they visit, the browser looks the same, ...except for the address bar. This affords an opportunity to reiterate that the address bar is the key unique feature of the browser. Moreover, if you gently nudge the user to utilize the address bar more (rather than typing URLs in to Google's search engine), this will likely lessen confusion about what a browser is and what a browser is for. 

Try to be patient and give multiple analogies, even ones that aren't technically correct. 

Feel free to share your experiences with explaining what a browser is to users.

Don't fear the tablets!!!

I hear a lot of people over 50 years old today exclaiming their fear that they won't be able to operate a tablet. It's true, they don't come with good manuals and your 15 year old niece may not do a good job of teaching you the basics. But....

Why shouldn't you fear the tablets?

1. You'll only do a few things on it. Look at picture above to see what you'll mostly do.
1. Browse the WWW
2. Email
3. Photos
2. They are harder to misconfigure or get a virus on than a desktop or laptop.
3. Most things (other than typing) are easier on a tablet.

What you have to do when you get it home:

1. Connect it to your wireless network.
2.  Set up your email account.
3. Enjoy! (from couch, waiting room or bed).

What more can you do?

• Play games.
• Read e-books.
• Facebook
• Watch videos, including HBO and Showtime.

Should you get an iPad or one of the other ones (Droid/Kindle)?
For most people, I recommend an iPad mini. Small, powerful and easiest to use, the iPad mini is the best choice except for:

• Those that want the lowest priced tablet.
• Those that are mostly going to be reading Amazon e-books on their tablet. For this I recommend the various Kindles.
• You can read e-books on any tablet, but the process can be more seamless on a Kindle.
• Note: The Kindle is often a pretty bad tablet for anything other than managing and reading e-books.
• Those that want to tinker, configure and pave their own way on their tablet.

 So don't fear the tablets. Other than typing on the touchscreen, they are your friend. If you end up doing a lot of typing on your tablet, you can buy a reasonably priced ($30) bluetooth keyboard.

Happy Computing!!!