Bitcoin needs to be simplified for the stupid.

[Loozik]

I think it would grab peoples attention if you call it the "global currency".  Or is that too far fetched 

We might take it further and call time periods: BCE (before cryptocurrency era) and ACE. Or would the Christians riot?

[russellw]

If you're going to make a user-friendly client for nonspecialists, I will suggest the first thing you should do is check to see whether it's on a pristine machine or one with other stuff installed and in the latter case refuse to run, with an appropriate error message. Above all else, Bitcoin for nonspecialists needs to put a stop to the endless stream of newbies having their money stolen, and part of that is making sure people don't put their bitcoins on the same machine they use for other stuff.

(The client should also check whether it's running in a virtual machine and refused to run if so, to guard against a case where somebody tries to run it in a virtual machine on the same physical computer they use for other stuff.)

[astutiumRob]

I believe if you can make it simple enough that even Grandma can use it, then you are opening up some pretty big fucking doors for Bitcoin.

When you've sat an watched a Grandma in a library help a 30-something use their paypal account, you realise it's a lot less about age and a lot more about mental acuity

[molecular]

I think we need a car analogy, no?

[noedaRDH]

I find that I have a lot of trouble explaining Bitcoins to the average person well enough so that they are intrigued enough to research it on their own.

There definitely needs to be a bit more "fun" in the Bitcoin ecosystem; some sort of PR campaign that not only get investors interested but your everyday layman interested.

We have to make Bitcoin cool for mass consumption.

[pwi]

Bitcoin really does need to be easier.  For God's sake - it's people's hard earned money.  Who would want to risk losing their money with the click of a mouse?  I agree with the OP on most things, although I do have to give credit to the geeks who have been very patient and nice (I'm somewhat ignorant with computers) on this board, the LTC, and the PpC boards over the past month.  Thanks to all of them.

Not to mention capacitive touchscreens + insects + Bitcoin wallet/client = potential disaster without human error.  A random horsefly thought I'd look smashing in a full body black latex BDSM style Halloween costume last year.  Damn you amazon one-click.  True story.

If devs can fix the horsefly/misclick scenario and improve ease of use without letting in too much hot air in at once; I'll post pics of me in the costume.  Disclaimer:  It will cost 0.5 BTC to take the pics down.

[noedaRDH]

I was just thinking of the various ways that a firm could advertise Bitcoins advantages over cash and even credit card for someone who does a lot of in person shopping (i.e. for food, for clothes, etc.).

Perhaps we should highlight how instead of carrying a wallet full of card and cash, they could make do with just their cell phones as long as they have a Bitcoin wallet app on it.

Less fiddling and carrying of coins and change and no need to secure your credit card, sign anything or punch in any pin codes. Everything you need is already on your cell phone.

If Bitcoins can be marketed as a tool of saving time then there should be enough appeal for masses to try it out.

[Loozik]

If Bitcoins can be marketed as a tool of saving time then there should be enough appeal for masses to try it out.

Yes, but first the product (Bitcoin system, inclusive of Bitcoin clients, e.g. Bitcoin-Qt) must be customized for the stupid (me inclusive) / polished to meet their capabilities.

It is too early to spend resources on marketing Bitcoin. I would not like to see people burned. If the stupid get burned you can expect a well-deserved negative PR. Such PR will not elevate Bitcoin prices. And we hope the prices to rise, don't we?

[QuantumQrack]

to the OP:

Bitcoin is already simplified for the stupid.  The only idea that could make it even simpler is to introduce hardware based wallets that conduct monetary transactions regardless of the user's intelligence level.

[noedaRDH]

If Bitcoins can be marketed as a tool of saving time then there should be enough appeal for masses to try it out.

Yes, but first the product (Bitcoin system, inclusive of Bitcoin clients, e.g. Bitcoin-Qt) must be customized for the stupid (me inclusive) / polished to meet their capabilities.

It is too early to spend resources on marketing Bitcoin. I would not like to see people burned. If the stupid get burned you can expect a well-deserved negative PR. Such PR will not elevate Bitcoin prices. And we hope the prices to rise, don't we?

Yes I agree with what you've said. I'm just saying that services revolving around Bitcoins, like a smartphone client, should be easy enough for nearly anyone to use.

The point is that stupid people exist, and they are a substantial part of any economy. You need them as much as they need you. Make Bitcoins easier and more attractive for them, and everyone is happy.

[Welsh]

Okay, so after telling my friends about bitcoin, I decided to give them a lecture on bitcoin.
Of course they were intrigued and wanted to know every last detail.
It took me around, a hour to explain the basics to them over a skype call, at the end they were all confused and had no idea what I had just told them, one even said "That is no possible", what is not possible, I asked.
He said a online currency, I laughed and ended the skype call, lol.

Anyway, the point is bitcoin is in need to be simplified and I THINK a lot of people agree on the subject, the whole mining bit is confusing even for veterans of bitcoin.

[noedaRDH]

Okay, so after telling my friends about bitcoin, I decided to give them a lecture on bitcoin.
Of course they were intrigued and wanted to know every last detail.
It took me around, a hour to explain the basics to them over a skype call, at the end they were all confused and had no idea what I had just told them, one even said "That is no possible", what is not possible, I asked.
He said a online currency, I laughed and ended the skype call, lol.

Anyway, the point is bitcoin is in need to be simplified and I THINK a lot of people agree on the subject, the whole mining bit is confusing even for veterans of bitcoin.

I've explained Bitcoins to 2 university undergrads yesterday and it took them quite some time to get it. I don't think the mining aspect is all that important but it's the implication of Bitcoins that is hard to get right away... It can take some time for it all to click in.

Of course, there are people who just don't care or want to understand anything outside of their comfort-zone. Bitcoin is funny like that, it's a great barometer of one's aptitude to adapting and accepting new concepts... some people just aren't capable of generating self-interest even when the result would obviously be rewarding to them.

[wumpus]

We have to make Bitcoin cool for mass consumption.

No. Just no. Bitcoin will become easier to use and get out of the way.

Money is infrastructure, it is not cool consumer technology.

[noedaRDH]

We have to make Bitcoin cool for mass consumption.

No. Just no. Bitcoin will become easier to use and get out of the way.

Money is infrastructure, it is not cool consumer technology.

Why can it not be cool?

So you're telling me that something cool should not be built on this infrastructure to gain people's attention?

It CAN be a cool thing for consumer to play with if it's done right; and there's no reason why it shouldn't be that way.

EDIT: You know, the more I think about it, the more it seems that this type of antisocial-elitist attitude on this forum is what might hinder its growth. Why should only tech-savvy people (uncool people?) deserve to use Bitcoin? Why shouldn't those who are incapable of thoroughly understanding Bitcoin (i.e. perhaps someone in your family) not deserve to get something out of Bitcoin?

[Jesteroth]

https://www.udemy.com/


I send all my "simple minded" friends here. Seems to work for them!

Very useful site btw, thanks...

[nwbitcoin]

Its quite easy to do this, but it requires some big picture thinking.

Forget all about the technical elements of bitcoin, and lets work with the end result.

People use new stuff because its either a legal requirement, or its easier than the old way.  Sometimes its because it makes their ego feel good, but generally, its to give them something they couldn't do before.

Why would you want to use bitcoin rather than Paypal?

The only reason I can think of is because its cheaper.

Here is a possible dialogue which demonstrates why we have a long way to go! We need a far better reason to use bitcoins!


Muggle: So, how would you do bitcoin rather than Paypal?

Geek: Ok, visit Localbitcoins, and buy $100 worth of bitcoins from some stranger, by giving him your bank account details.

Muggle: I can't get ripped off if I do this, can I?

Geek: You'll probably get around 0.95 worth of bitcoins.

Muggle: Doesn't sound like much for $100!

Geek: Now visit a website that sells stuff for bitcoins, and buy something you want - like a graphic card, or some porn, of maybe some drugs. Sorry, you can't buy nice clothes yet, because bitcoin people wear black t shirts exclusively!

Geek: Type in the address of where you want to send your bitcoins, making sure to match the amount they want with the amount you want to send, but add a little extra 0.01 to cover mining costs (don't ask!)

Geek: Now give the people your name and address so that they can send you the stuff.

Geek: 3 days later, you might get your stuff!

Muggle: its far easier with Paypal - they have all my details, go to the bank for me and even give me credit and ensure that I'm not defrauded!

Geek: But Bitcoin is cheaper and sticks it to the man!

Muggle: But they have my name and address when I tell them where to ship it to, how is that anonymous?

Geek: Bitcoins rule!


Can anyone else see the problem here?

[wumpus]

EDIT: You know, the more I think about it, the more it seems that this type of antisocial-elitist attitude on this forum is what might hinder its growth. Why should only tech-savvy people (uncool people?) deserve to use Bitcoin? Why shouldn't those who are incapable of thoroughly understanding Bitcoin (i.e. perhaps someone in your family) not deserve to get something out of Bitcoin?

You're reading things between the lines that don't exist. Everyone should be able to use Bitcoin. It should become easier to use (that's why I started working on bitcoin-qt in the first place). That does not mean "cool". The cool factor is marketing, a clever way to use your desire for social validation to separate you from your money. It has nothing to do with the product. If anything, the focus on hipster US consumer technologies marketed by billion-dollar PR agencies is very narrow.

The big picture is that most people use technologies because they are useful to them not because they are "cool". Especially outside the first world. They use them because it empowers them, because it allows them to do things they would not be able to do otherwise, or at least way more efficiently. Or maybe it even helps them survive despite their conditions. Do you think the Romans built aqueducts because they thought they were cool? Do you think people in Ghana use mobile payments because they are cool?

Bitcoin is still searching for its niches, but it has already shown to be very useful for some kinds of transactions. This is what drives adoption: people use it to accept payments. Slowly but surely the technical stuff will go to the background. The end result will be no more need to mess with blockchains and separate private keys for casual users. Just reliably send units of currency from one person to another person anywhere on the world. Everyone understands that.

[Bitcoinm]

I think the mistake people make is showing people "Bitcoin" instead of showing people what it can be used for.  While geeks and libertarian types have a full interest in the mechanics of Bitcoin, most people would be more interested in seeing the cool things it can be used for.

It is okay if for some people Bitcoin is simply a means to get to the ends that interest them.

[edd]

Bitcoin is a very strange and complicated item.

It's as if an automobile was just dropped into a civilization like ours that had never seen them before. Many would fear it because of its potential to cause great damage if not handled properly. Many would be daunted by the unusual and odd interface, not to mention learning how to operate it. Many would be concerned about the regular and expensive fuel requirements. Even those curious about it would be overwhelmed by the features and options.

Those who saw the inherent advantages and lucrative business opportunities would be tinkering, experimenting, redesigning, and finding ways to make them appeal to everyone from those who just need to get from point A to point B and the extremely wealthy.

There is sooo much territory to be covered in bitcoinland and we are just beginning to make some headway. It will be a while before there's a bitcoin in every garage, but I feel it's inevitable.

[marcus_of_augustus]

Those who saw the inherent advantages and lucrative business opportunities would be tinkering, experimenting, redesigning, and finding ways to make them appeal to everyone from those who just need to get from point A to point B and the extremely wealthy.

This was a good use of analogy .... others will jump in the driver's seat with relish and tear around with abandon, pulling donuts, scaring kids and grandmas, and holding unofficial races ... same as it ever was.