Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

What is a Browser? (By the Google Chrome team): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MwTvtyrUQ



That's a good vid, one that I've watched several times, but each time I'm left with the following dilemma.

Should my takeaway be: "Geez, we live in a computer based society, and everyone is so insanely clueless".

or should it be: "Cool, people are getting along just fine with their daily tools, not needing to know the 'details' of them".

Which one is it?


How well do you know the inner workings of all of the tools you use on a daily basis? Obviously you have a mental model of them. But is it accurate enough to make a similar kind of distinction between a web browser and a search engine?


For things like a search engine I think it makes more sense to compare it to the supply chain that produces other things that we use. The page that shows up in the web browser that we interact with is more akin to a piece of fruit we buy in the grocery store. I certainly know how to eat a banana, but I couldn't begin to tell you how many companies and technologies were involved in delivering that banana to me.


Welcome to every day of my life. (Everyone should watch this at least once.)




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: