Jeff Johnson reflects on his early experience with computers, arguing that ordinary users are fully capable of becoming skilled “power users” if given the opportunity, as demonstrated by his and his father's self-taught proficiency with the Apple II+. He criticizes modern computer vendors, especially Apple, for increasingly locking down devices and simplifying interfaces in a way that limits user autonomy and fosters permanent illiteracy, warning that this trend—amplified by AI—risks disempowering users and curtailing genuine learning and growth.
If Computers Are the Future, Why Are Computer Users Expected to Be Permanently Illiterate?
