Link This | Email this | Blog This | Comments (0)

Ghosts Inside The Machine - 4
November 8, 2007

This thread started when I noticed computer problems in the prepress department of a company. As I walked through the prepress area and I estimated that about half the computers were not working right. The ability to see computer performance issues at a glance some consider a savant like skill, but it’s actually the result of watching closely and knowing how long specific tasks should take.

Those that have this skill, listen and see things in computers that many people don’t notice. This ability is a combination of observation, experience and intuition. For those without the skill, seeing someone use it can be a little spooky. If you ask someone without the skill how the technician diagnosed the problem they would tell you a strange tale that combined fact and fiction.

They would describe how the technician placed his or her ear on the computer as if listening to see if the posse was on their trail, touch the computer as if performing a Vulcan mind meld, and smelled the air coming out of the fans, like a animal tracker smelling the dirt. Then then  technician would report that “I think the hard disk is about to fail, but I have to run some tests”.

Even though you may consider computer hackers savant like, it’s probably not a good idea to refer to them as “Rainman”. Often these computer savants don’t have the best people skills, but when you need them - you don’t care. All you care about is getting back that data that you have not backed up. At that point they are worth their weight in gold. So instead of thinking of them and calling them "Rainman" you might consider them and call them computer – whisperers.

Posted by Howie Fenton on November 8, 2007 | Comments (0)