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October 24, 2006, Kent Norman was a guest on the Kojo Nnamdi Show (WAMU, 88.5 FM), Tech Tuesday:
"Internet Addiction" (Link) .
July 10, 2006, Kent Norman was interviewed by W*USA Channel 9 News Reporter Derek McGinty:
"Emails: Don't Mince Words" (Link) .
April 2, 2006, Kent Norman was a guest interviewee for Maryland Day in the
Media Relations Tent on Computer Rage.
September 8, 2005, Article in AARP, Learning and Technology:
"Don't Let Computer Rage Spoil Your Day", by Gabriel Goldberg.
June 27, 2005, Kent Norman was a interviewed about computer rage on
Braves Radio 640 WGST, Atlanta, GA, by Tom Hughes.
June 26, 2005, Kent Norman was a guest on the radio show
TechTalk with Tom D'Auria,
talking about Computer Rage, broadcast on KFNX 1100, Phoenix, AZ.
June 24, 2005, Article in ABC NEWS:
"Technical Sanfus Fueling 'Computer Rage'"(Link)
May 18, 2005, Article in Voice of America News:
"Why Can't They Make Computers That Don't Crash?"(Link)
May 6, 2005, Spot on Good Morning America (ABC):
"Computer Rage"(MOV 6.3MB)
May 1, 2005, Article in The Washington Post:
"Repair Teams Try to Calm 'Computer Rage'"(Link)
May 1, 2005, Article in the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle:
"Got computer rage? Expert suggests safe ways to vent"(Link)
Old News -->
See older news coverage of the phenomena of computer rage on the next page.
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The Problem:
Computer rage is becoming a big problem in our world today. Men and women are
taking out their frustrations on the computer; and unfortunately, sometimes misdirecting it to
other people. In the work place and at the home,
more and more people are smashing their computer screens, beating on the keyboard, and
throwing the computer out the window. What is to be done? Should we calm the
user, control their behavior, and channel their anger to different outlets?
The Solution:
Rather than bottling up the frustration with technology and entering into
"techno-frustration denial," we propose to let the user vent in safe, controlled, and
vicarious ways.
The Methods:
These pages are devoted to methods of venting on the primary target of all of our
frustration: the computer. Users have a right to express their feelings,
their frustrations, and their rage. But the question is how to do it in a
safe and satisfying way. We will be describing both proper and gratifying methods of
hacking the keyboard in two, stringing up the mouse, and literally frying the computer.
Stay tuned and/or check back later for recipes for aggression, "how to" instructional
videos, and much, much more! Use the links below to find information on creative and safe ways of venting your frustrations with computers.
We recommend "vicarious venting." Watch the videos and turn your anger into laugher!
See the venting methods on the next page.
Or visit other interesting sites for your venting pleasure.
The Survey:
Do you feel you may be suffering from computer rage? If so take our
Computer Rage SURVEY!
The Results of the Survey:
You can see the results for the US Version of the survey. There were 1050 respondents. The results are shown as a
Keynote presentation,
"Computer Rage: Theory and Practice"
(HTML).
(PDF 469 KB).
We have now collected the results from over 3,300 respondents from around the world in several
languages. Technical reports on these results will be forthcoming.
You can also view some of the written responses that we have received by going to the links below:
Possible Presentations:
Kent Norman is available for a number of types of presentations on the topic of computer rage.
See the list of possible presentations.
The Laboratory for Automation Psychology and Decision Processes:
We have studied the cognitive aspects of human/computer interaction for the past 21 years in collaboration with the
Human-Computer Interaction Laboratory here at the
Univerisity of Maryland. From menu selection to
operating systems, from usability testing to iterative design, from instructional technology to online surveys
and data collection, we continue to do serious work on human/computer interaction, but we also have fun.
Visit our lab website at
lap.umd.edu.
For research on the aspects and causes of frustration, see the advocacy website for
The New Computing.
Feedback:
Let us know what you think about computer rage. If you have comments, ideas, or contributions (e.g., images, movies,
websites), please email them to computer_rage@lap.umd.edu.
Disclaimer: All of the computers and computer equipment shown in various states of mutilation
were either dead on arrival, obsolete, or really deserving punishment. We do not
advocate the destruction of property or any acts of violence that might be injurious to self or
others.