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About this quote

What does it mean?
Computers are meant to serve humans but often end up causing stress or control. Raskin points out this reversal of the servant-master relationship.
In plain terms
Computers often oppress users instead of serving them.
What can you take from it?
Ensure technology serves humans rather than controlling them.

Where it applies

  • tech usage
  • workplace tools
  • daily computing

Putting it to work

  • prioritize user control
  • reduce unnecessary complexity
  • audit automation

Questions to consider

  • When did you last feel controlled by a computer?
  • How can you restore agency?

Another view

Efficiency gains sometimes require some loss of direct control.

More from Jef Raskin

  1. It would be wonderful if we could just tuck in a few loose ends and change a handful of details of present systems to have them work properly. Unfortunately, w…

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  2. I am only a footnote, but proud of the footnote I have become. My subsequent work - on eliciting principles and developing the theory of interface design, so t…

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  3. Imagine if every Thursday your shoes exploded if you tied them the usual way. This happens to us all the time with computers, and nobody thinks of complaining.

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