Light Bulb

[Hightower]

"I need a new light bulb for my projector please"

 

"Do you want a normal one or would you prefer energy saving?"

[webman]

Bayonet or screw fitting?

[tsky]

give them a selection of bulbs and a screwdriver and see how long it keeps them entertained

[enjay]

"I need a new light bulb for my projector please"

 

What's wrong with that? Ask yourself whether you use all the correct terms when you go to the garage, doctor or dentist...

 

Part of your job is to ascertain what people mean when they report problems - just like how when you hear "the system won't accept my password" you know they've forgotten it or exceeded space limits. All one could/should expect from a non-technical user's fault report is sufficient information to allow a more knowledge person to identify and fix the problem. In my opinion, "I need a new light bulb" does this.

[Hightower]

What's wrong with that? Ask yourself whether you use all the correct terms when you go to the garage, doctor or dentist...

 

Part of your job is to ascertain what people mean when they report problems - just like how when you hear "the system won't accept my password" you know they've forgotten it or exceeded space limits. All one could/should expect from a non-technical user's fault report is sufficient information to allow a more knowledge person to identify and fix the problem. In my opinion, "I need a new light bulb" does this.

 

Think you need to go back to bed and get out the right side mate.

[LosOjos]

Reminds me of the time I got home to find my house mate with his laptop in pieces on the table "looking for the virus"....

[rad]

Think you need to go back to bed and get out the right side mate.

 

totally agree!

[enjay]

I hadn't meant my post in a negative way, simply to say that we shouldn't expect non-technical people to use the correct technical terms, so a teacher asking for a light bulb would be fine by me (think how many people call the base unit the "hard disk" or "CPU"!). If you meant it purely as a joke not recounting a genuine question, then my apologies for misunderstanding your post.

[broc]

That's the trouble with the written word vs the spoken word, it is sometimes difficult to interpret the mood or intent of the author.........

 

I doubt my teacher colleagues would go so far as to suggest it was a lamp or bulb problem.... all we would get is "the projector doesn't work", or in extreme cases (spectacular lamp failure) "it went BANG!"

 

Then you have to sift through the usual... is it switched on (that includes the fused spur switch in the trunking)... VGA cable in....etc etc

[solitaire89]

"it went BANG!"

 

When ever anyone comes to me and says that their computer/projector etc won't turn on, I always ask if it went bang. I've never had anyone say yes yet, but they look at their machines in a very different light after that - oh the power of fear!

[Hightower]

I hadn't meant my post in a negative way, simply to say that we shouldn't expect non-technical people to use the correct technical terms, so a teacher asking for a light bulb would be fine by me (think how many people call the base unit the "hard disk" or "CPU"!). If you meant it purely as a joke not recounting a genuine question, then my apologies for misunderstanding your post.

 

I'm too "professional" (just ask webman or bossman ) to actually say that to a teacher. Of course they don't know the technical terms for things, and I wouldn't expect them too. Those quotes in the OP were the teachers question, followed by what went through my head!

 

If anything I have more respect to this teacher for trying to tell me what was wrong, instead of the usual "my projector doesn't work" which could be just about anything. I just thought it was funny the way this teacher said it and I thought it...... oh, forget it. My sense of humour is lost on some people

[webman]

Don't worry HT, I got what you were on about

[Mako]

I doubt my teacher colleagues would go so far as to suggest it was a lamp or bulb problem.... all we would get is "the projector doesn't work"

 

*chuckle*

 

That sentence is all too frequent here, but more often than not when the "projector doesn't work" it is infact the SMART Board that isn't being interactive.

 

When the "whiteboard doesn't work" it is infact the projector that's not working, for whatever reason.

[enjay]

I just thought it was funny the way this teacher said it and I thought it...... oh, forget it. My sense of humour is lost on some people

 

I'm upset at myself, in that case - normally I'm the first one in with a sarcastic comment!

[Hightower]

I'm upset at myself, in that case - normally I'm the first one in with a sarcastic comment!

 

No problem - no-one has been hurt and we all got there in the end

[Gerry]

When ever anyone comes to me and says that their computer/projector etc won't turn on, I always ask if it went bang. I've never had anyone say yes yet, but they look at their machines in a very different light after that - oh the power of fear!

 

Once had a lot of Samsung CRT monitors go Bang! when you turned them on. Happened to me once - an almighty crack as I turned it on - if there is a record for a backwards jump, I broke it that day

 

Also, a few years ago, switched on a PC, only to hear a pop and then a see a large puff of toxic smoke come out the back.

 

I've also had a user working on their PC, when the disc in their CD drive shattered and exploded out past their face

[enjay]

I've also had a user working on their PC, when the disc in their CD drive shattered and exploded out past their face

 

I've done that, too - I didn't put it in the tray properly, and it snapped in two when it shut (hadn't realised they shut with that much force!).

[solitaire89]

I've done that, too - I didn't put it in the tray properly, and it snapped in two when it shut (hadn't realised they shut with that much force!).

 

neither did I - could be useful for removing kids fingers when they persist in beggering up the system

[ron]

What's wrong with that? Ask yourself whether you use all the correct terms when you go to the garage, doctor or dentist...

 

Part of your job is to ascertain what people mean when they report problems - just like how when you hear "the system won't accept my password" you know they've forgotten it or exceeded space limits. All one could/should expect from a non-technical user's fault report is sufficient information to allow a more knowledge person to identify and fix the problem. In my opinion, "I need a new light bulb" does this.

 

I like when you said "...........just like how when you hear "the system won't accept my password" you know they've forgotten it or exceeded space limits............" It's true! It's very rare when a user say's to you that they have forgotten their password, they almost always say that the system won't accept their password. It's almost as if they are stating that it's the computer fault they cannot log on.

 

I understand what you mean, most people only understand the job that they carryout and not that of other's so it can be difficult to use the correct terms when asking someone of another profession for help.

[broc]

*chuckle*

 

That sentence is all too frequent here, but more often than not when the "projector doesn't work" it is infact the SMART Board that isn't being interactive.

 

When the "whiteboard doesn't work" it is infact the projector that's not working, for whatever reason.

 

The other favourite here is 'the Internet is down', which roughly translates to "I have forgotten to plug my network cable in (both ends)" or similar..... but hey, that's what we get paid to deal with

[witch]

Today, I got: " my remote control for the IWB doesn't work"

 

Do you think she meant the projector

[enjay]

It's very rare when a user say's to you that they have forgotten their password, they almost always say that the system won't accept their password. It's almost as if they are stating that it's the computer fault they cannot log on.

 

If I'm in one of "those moods", I won't reset someone's password until they in some way accept/admit where the fault lies - what a friend of mine would describe as a picnic error (Problem In Chair, Not In Computer!).

[broc]

If I'm in one of "those moods", I won't reset someone's password until they in some way accept/admit where the fault lies - what a friend of mine would describe as a picnic error (Problem In Chair, Not In Computer!).

 

Funny, I get 'those' moods too. I had two students arrive in my office today; one said he had changed his password recently but forgotten it, the other said he knew what his password was but the computer wouldn't let him logon.....

 

Needless to say, one of them got their password reset... the other was sent away to try again

[ron]

If I'm in one of "those moods", I won't reset someone's password until they in some way accept/admit where the fault lies - what a friend of mine would describe as a picnic error (Problem In Chair, Not In Computer!).

 

Not heard of PICNIC before, I use the term PEBKAC (Problem exist between keyboard and chair).

 

I think it's a good idea to share what goes on, it's funny, no disrespect to the user. I think you said (enjay) in an earlier message that it's just like us going to the garage and not knowing how to express what we think is wrong with our car in the correct terms, been there a few times myself and I'm sure the garage laughed about it afterwards.

 

I once worked with a technician that was doing some cabling and he forgot to unplug the cable from the switch before he cut through it and sparks flew all over the place, I couldn't stop laughing but he was quite insulted, but it's an easy mistake to make I just saw the funny side.

 

What about those users that assume when their IWB stops working they also assume the projector won't work until you have fixed the IWB!

[mpe]

Bayonet or screw fitting?

Offer them an onion and if that's right tell them "that shallott"