Are We Losing Interest in Computers?

[Guest]

This might actually be the stupidest article on TH I have ever read.

 

[Afrospinach]

I think it is probably as simple as computers work better and are more intuitive today than they were in the past, therefore no need to brush up on your knowledge.

 

[rickl7069]

My guess -
Almost 9 years ago, the web was more dominated by geeks than now, therefore, the percentage of traffic into geek realms would naturally have been higher than today.
I would guess that if we were to exclude the many non-geeks who have become interested in computers because of facebook since 2004, then the percentage of searches going to computers would probably rise back up to higher levels.
The amount of people searching for computers probably has not changed - maybe even gone up - on the percentage has changed. Just a guess.

 

[DRosencraft]

Let's just face facts. Even if the actual percentage is off, no one should delude themselves into thinking computers have not loss their luster. It's disappointing, but as a percentage of the population (not just of internet traffic), computer interest has dropped significantly. It's not "end of computers" level or anything, but smartphones and tablets (which I assume aren't directly reflected in the data) have made classic ideas of computing less attractive. It may pass, it may not, but that's the way it is.

 

[southernshark]

People pick a few websites and tend to stick with those websites. I don't do many searches anymore for computer related things. Instead I come to Toms or to Anandtech or a couple other sights which are already bookmarked.

 

[greghome]

[citation][nom]southernshark[/nom]People pick a few websites and tend to stick with those websites. I don't do many searches anymore for computer related things. Instead I come to Toms or to Anandtech or a couple other sights which are already bookmarked.[/citation]

Agreed

 

[rebturtle]

Now that everything can run Crysis, what's the point?

 

[TheBigTroll]

Now that everything can run Crysis, what's the point?

not my laptop bro

 

[rickl7069]

[citation][nom]rebturtle[/nom]Now that everything can run Crysis, what's the point?[/citation]
Seriously?
Crysis is no where near reaching realism in gameplay. True players are waiting for the moment when gaming becomes as realistic as real life and processing creates interactive characters with the responsiveness and thought processes of human adversaries (or friends). We watch breathtakingly as next gen graphics and processing power approach inch by inch.

 

[scannall]

Computers are becoming just another household appliance to most people. You don't do a lot of searching about dishwashers or dryers either.

 

[therabiddeer]

This has to be the most ridiculous conclusion I have ever seen from a set of data.

If the search term "Warez" is lower, does that mean that piracy is down? No, not necessarily. It just means there might be factors at play.

 

[NuclearShadow]

What a stupid question and article name. Our cultures are so obsessed with computers that we have turned everything into one. Our phones are now little computers our TV's are now becoming computers. We may not call them such but they are just that a form of computer. Do I even have to list other examples?

The search trends mean little to begin with and likely did not cover the wide area of things that can be fairly deemed as computers. There is also no way in hell you could take a year like 2004 and compare it to 2007 when the iPhone was revealed, love it or hate it it shot up instantly into massive popularity and continues this trend to this day. The problem isn't the lack of interest in computers as it never existed the problem is with this terribly done research that doesn't realize we computerized everything.

 

[gutenacht]

This is a pretty goofy conclusion to come to based on some random statistics that they won't expand on. Couldn't it suggest that people are more educated, at least in the area of where to look for information, and thus they use google search less?

 

[hotroderx]

Economy most likely plays a huge role in all of this also. Why window shop when you cant afford.

 

[deck]

[citation][nom]amk-aka-Phantom[/nom]I knew it's a Gruener article before I even opened it. Wolfgang, how come they allow you to write BS about PCs without the "Opinion" prefix again?[/citation]

Likewise. Another useless article by Wolfgang.

 

[everygamer]

More than likely people are more comfortable and have a better understanding of using computer technology, as such, they don't need to search for as much information related to it. Plus younger generations might be going to social technologies first to ask questions before using search engines.

 

[blakwidowrsa]

It might have something to do with the fact that Mhz has not really increased dramatically since around 2005. It seems the 4Ghz speed limit hover has a negative impact on "I have to have it". I remember days when I could not wait for the next gen CPU to hit the shelves, but that is fading from memory fast.

Exert taken from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law

"Moore's law describes a driving force of technological and social change in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.[9][10]

This trend has continued for more than half a century. Sources in 2005 expected it to continue until at least 2015 or 2020.[note 1][12] However, the 2010 update to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors has growth slowing at the end of 2013,[13] after which time transistor counts and densities are to double only every three years."

So google is confirming this. No wonder mobile has increased as they are not as powerful as pc's (yet).
Let the mobile race commence!

 

[beayn]

[citation][nom]southernshark[/nom]People pick a few websites and tend to stick with those websites. I don't do many searches anymore for computer related things. Instead I come to Toms or to Anandtech or a couple other sights which are already bookmarked.[/citation]I think it's a combination of this, and the fact that it's increasingly difficult to sift through the huge numbers of paid search results, malicious sites and completely irrelevant results that Google gives now, further encouraging the use of bookmarked sites.

On top of this, less knowledgeable people have probably had their search engine hijacked by malware, which has massively increased since 2004. Google won't see those searches.

 

[RyQril]

[citation][nom]rebturtle[/nom]Now that everything can run Crysis, what's the point?[/citation]

thats exactly wt i was thinking, a new-gen game mb will make us horny at some point soon

 

[therabiddeer]

[citation][nom]BlakwidowRSA[/nom]It might have something to do with the fact that Mhz has not really increased dramatically since around 2005. It seems the 4Ghz speed limit hover has a negative impact on "I have to have it". I remember days when I could not wait for the next gen CPU to hit the shelves, but that is fading from memory fast. Exert taken from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore's_law"Moore's law describes a driving force of technological and social change in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.[9][10]This trend has continued for more than half a century. Sources in 2005 expected it to continue until at least 2015 or 2020.[note 1][12] However, the 2010 update to the International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors has growth slowing at the end of 2013,[13] after which time transistor counts and densities are to double only every three years."So google is confirming this. No wonder mobile has increased as they are not as powerful as pc's (yet).Let the mobile race commence![/citation]
While raw Mhz hasnt increased, raw computing power has drastically increased.

 

[kronos_cornelius]

Computers are less focused now that people look more for information about what they are doing with the computer rather than information about the computer itself.

Just like we do things with water, but seldom inquire about how the water gets to our hose.
Just like we look for information about 4K TVs but don't inquire anymore about how to get electricity to our house.

I also agree all signs point to Moore's law being dead. Few programmers are exploiting multi-core power and that puts a cap on the potential for programs to about the technology available in 2008. This turns the PC into a refrigerator or a stove... things you won't replace unless they break.

 

[devBunny]

"Are We Losing Interest in Computers?"

Perhaps (and see others' comments above for possible factors and reasons) but the major effect will surely be that there are more and more people who are barely interested in computers in the first place.

"Yet it is startling that there has been a persistent decline in this segment."

Is it? When there are X billion people on the internet with all their diversity it ain't rocket science that there are more topics sharing the search pie.

 

[bit_user]

lol. No, google, they're just searching more on bing, now.

 

[Guest]

Loosing interest? Na

However the tech world is boring the last 4 or so years. I miss the days when CPUs were geting twice as fast every year, or 9 months. Now we got 15% every year or 2, boring. I miss when graphics cards were 2x or more as fast every 6 months, now we are lucky to get 30% in a year.

Boring....

 

[wlachan]

I think consumer computers and OS have reached a point essential upgrades are less frequent.