The images are no longer availible. We may deny it, but research shows that we treat our computers like people. But others embrace a new software program named Bob. Adults swear their PCs know what they want them to do, but are unwilling to tell them.
People scream at voice-mail systems.
And in the event that computers don't totally traumatize their human users, its common for them to be patted, praised and effusively blessed. Of course, everyone knows that computers are just machines. But however much we deny it, new research shows we respond to them as we would to other people. Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, who made his fortune selling frustrating computer software to millions of people, is an unlikely convert to this philosophy. Gone, too, are the graphic icons and mouse-controlled menus of the Apple Macintosh computer or Microsoft's Windows software.