Why we hate technology

Why is it that we get frustrated with technology? It is all peaceful and smooth sailing until it is not, then we go from calm to crazy in just a few clicks of the mouse. Why?

The reason is not just an emotional thing or an immature response to a plastic box with blinking lights. But a combination of trust and fear.

We do not fully understand what we work with., Almost all the people who work with a computer have no idea how it actually works with all its lights, keys and programmes, somehow creating computer stuff via cables and chips using 1 and 0 bits of data. So, we trust and hope that it all goes well. But trusting something we can’t understand comes with a huge dose of fear of it not working.

It is great when all systems are up and working, but as soon as the mother-buffer circle starts to spin and we lose connection or go into the land of the frozen, our natural response comes from that fear, and we get frustrated very quickly. This is followed by the random banging of the poor mouse on the desk and the grinding of teeth. Not to mention the language change.

It is very different when all things go well and never show signs of slowing down or stopping. We smile and carry on as the perfect day unfolds. Because we do not get to realise that fear.

The same applies to any electronic or mechanical device we use. Think back to your car or blender or air-fryer. All is happy until things are not. The same reaction comes from not understanding how it works or what to do to fix it.

Look at how differently a technician reacts to a machine when it breaks. They simply get under the hood and fix it, then continue. Not anger, no swearing. With knowledge comes power and less frustration.

I am not asking us all to become AI and computer experts overnight. But maybe with a bit more understanding, our lives will be less frustrating. This is where AQ or Agent Quotient come in. The technical Intelligence that helps us understand a little more about how computers and AI work, so we can converse with them and overcome issues as they arise and not get bogged down in anger.

If you had to rate your current AQ from 1 to 10, 1 being do not understand computers to 10 being I am integrated with AI in my everyday life. How would you rate? What would you need to do to improve your AQ to reduce the frustration in your life?