Young Generation Z test Windows XP for the first time

In a very interesting experiment that highlights the technological gap between generations, young people from Generation Z were challenged to use Windows XPoperating system of Microsoft which was released in the early 2000s. The result? A mixture of confusion, surprise and even frustration when faced with technologies that, for many of us, were revolutionary just two decades ago.

The test, conducted by the channel Linus Tech Tipsrevealed how the technological changes of the last two decades have completely transformed our interaction with computers. While for many older users Windows XP represents a milestone in the history of computing, for young people born in the digital age, it represents a real usability challenge.

Participants faced their first difficulty when trying to configure the iconic Windows XP screensavers. Without the practicality of modern search systems, young people took a while to find the system’s basic settings.

The classic 3D screensaver with pipes caused astonishment, as did the unexpected encounter with Merlin, one of the first virtual assistants in the history of computing.

The system’s less intuitive interface demonstrated how the evolution of graphical interfaces in recent years has drastically simplified the user experience. Participants, accustomed to modern systems, needed considerable time to carry out tasks that are now practically automatic.

One of the most interesting moments of the experiment was when the young people had to handle CDs. Some didn’t even know how to open the disc cases or how to use the CD-ROM drive. The need to press a button to eject the drive tray surprised several participants.

The experience of installing programs across multiple disks was particularly challenging. Accustomed to instant downloads and simplified installations, young people were perplexed by the need to change disks during the installation process, a common limitation at the time due to reduced storage space.

Internet speed was another point of frustration for participants. Used to high-speed connections, young people showed impatience with the loading time of web pages, even considering that these were much simpler visually than current ones.

Games of the time, such as 3D Pinball and GTA 3, also provoked interesting reactions. The low resolution of the monitors, simple graphics and reduced frame rate caught the attention of the participants, who are used to modern games that border on photorealism.