My father has been asking me and my siblings for help with his computer and other devices. Recently, I went over to help him connect bluetooth headphones to the TV. This type of assistance can be frustrating, especially if my parents struggle can’t understand the process, even with multiple explanation. But while helping him, it hit me that operating computers and modern technology is actually very cumbersome and can be a bit too complicated.
These thoughts lead to this thread–namely, ways to make using computers and other modern technology a lot easier. I started thinking about an either paid or non-profit type of service center where subscribers could receive these type of administrative services–a kind of “IT department” for individual citizens. I can go into this more later, but at some point it occurred to me: why couldn’t an AI (on a device) handle things like connecting a bluetooth headphones to a TV? Why do individuals have to go into settings at all? Does Alexa already do something like this? Or the various AI? I’m wary of LLMs, but I’m more amendable to an AI not connected to the internet and only designed to help with administrative functions on a device.
Off the top of my head, I think there are three primary types of solutions to the problem I’ve described. First, individuals can handle this, which is the status quo. Second, some technological solution like an AI. Third, a group of individuals providing these services. I’ll give some thoughts on that third option in the next section.
The service I had in mind wouldn’t only assist with setting up devices, but also make computer-based technology like smartphones and other devices a lot easier overall. Before I describe my thoughts on this, consider older, analogue devices and appliances–e.g., an analogue TV, telephone, a stove, etc. Compared to a smartphone using the TVs we grew up with was way easier. Can we make smartphones as easy to use as these older devices? That’s one of the ideas.
How would this occur?
The first thought that occurred to me involved a company, non-profit, or even government entity providing new, simpler devices and software, in addition to IT support. This is vague, but I’m thinking of a simpler user interface(s), far less apps. One of the other tangential ideas I had involved having a company create accounts for various sites, while individuals would pay a subscription to the company, giving them access to these sites, without creating various accounts and passwords. Subscribers would basically be able use these services with the company serving as a kind of middle-man. For example, if a person wanted to purchase items from Amazon, the process would be essentially same as if they had their own account, but the payment would go to the middle-man. The account would be set up by the middle man so Amazon and other sites wouldn’t be getting data on individuals. The general idea is to have a middle-man to make getting services and security a lot easier, while also protecting the privacy of users.
Who Would Provide This Service?
I mentioned a private company, non-profit, or even government entity. But another possibility occurred to me and I want to jump to that idea–namely, universities. Could universities expand personnel and events utilize students to provide this service? (The students could have opportunities to get paid.) Subscribers could pay nominal fees, with maybe funding from the government. (Without more taxes, the government doesn’t seem like a great funding source….Let’s put aside funding for now.) This idea appeals to me because the university faculty could be more stable and possibly more talented than government IT workers. (Another possibility: joint venture with government IT departments. Another idea entirely: universities provide IT services to state and local governments. If they develop software for government services, they could sell this to other governments and generate revenue this way.)
Another idea I had involved a community or church providing some of these services. These entities likely couldn’t provide software or hardware, but they could create singular accounts and then give access to users to them, handling passwords and protecting the data of users. (This approach probably wouldn’t work with some internet companies–e.g., netflix.)