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Run for your lives-the computers are invading. Awesomely powerful computers tackling ever more important tasks with awkward, old-fashioned interfaces. As these machines leak into every corner of our lives, they will annoy us, infuriate us, and even kill a few of us. In turn, we will be tempted to kill our computers, but we won't dare because we are already utterly, irreversibly dependent on these hopeful monsters that make modern life possible.
Alan Cooper
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Interpretation

What this quote means

This quote reflects the duality of our dependence on technology and the frustrations it brings us.

Alan Cooper's quote highlights the paradox of modern technology, particularly computers. While he acknowledges their incredible potential and the essential role they play in our daily lives, he also underscores the frustrations and challenges they present, portraying them as 'hopeful monsters.' This tension between dependency and annoyance captures the complex relationship we have with advancing technology and prompts reflection on our reliance on these tools as they infiltrate every aspect of our existence.

Themes

TechnologyComputersDependencyFrustrationModern Life

In practice

Example use cases

In a speech about the future of technology and its impacts on society.

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If we want users to like our software we should design it to behave like a likeable person: respectful, generous and helpful.
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No matter how beautiful, no matter how cool your interface, it would be better if there were less of it.
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