Re: From Expert to Novice

>
> A generalization of this kind of effect would suggest the
> following heuristic:
>
>   * experts lag novices in interface acceptance
>
> It is not just that the experts are old dogs trying to learn
> new tricks, but also that the experts already know an interface,
> so changing indicates a necessary inertial lag or delay. I am
> trying to gauge whether this is indeed a valid heuristic, or just
> an anomoly.

ISTR this is a well-observed phenomenon (though can't think of any
references for now). For example, it's more difficult to relearn the Dvorak
keyboard once you can touch type on a Qwerty than it is to learn the Dvorak
if you'd never used a keyboard before. This has also presented particular
problems in aviation with the move from 'steam' to glass cockpits (and
appears to have contributed to the 1989 Kegworth aircrash).

Ken.