Comment by psnehanshu | Hacker News Reader

Comment by psnehanshu | Hacker News Reader

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You maybe coming from a place with high computer literacy, but what I have expressed is what I see in my surroundings.

You mentioned electronic bills (idk what that is), bank account/SWIFT/IBAN. You maybe suprised, but these people don't type these numbers at all. They don't ever need to. The most they can type is a phone number.

People have more patience to type CC number because it's more important to them than receiving a file, which can be easily shared through WhatsApp etc. For larger files, they will just copy using a data cable, or pendrive.

> And unlike the CC info, every IP a non-techie ever deals with - and they have most certainly seen and typed one at least few times at this point, such as when they got internet service - starts with the same 6 digits.

Yeah, keep living in your bubble. One rarely needs to type an IP address to use a modern fiber optics internet connection. It's generally pre-cofigured.

> A QR code is a far better solution

> Then just use that instead of ranting about how IPs are unacceptable.

Yes, and I am always going to choose the QR code over typing IP address manually any time of the day.

The point is that computer literacy is entirely irrelevant as it is safe to assume that the average smartphone-owning person is entirely capable of copying text and numbers without meaning to them much longer and more arduous than what is demanded for a local IP.

> You mentioned electronic bills (idk what that is), bank account/SWIFT/IBAN. You maybe suprised, but these people don't type these numbers at all.

The average individual must pay bills, and that involves copying payment details. Here, that means copying numeric payment details - either a special bill number or bank details.

Likewise if you work in an office you may be confronted with invoices paid by bank transfer.

There can be local variations in means of payment of course, but unless you live in a cash-only world it would not be avoidable.

> People have more patience to type CC number because it's more important to them than receiving a file

There is nothing that would support this claim. It is quite conceivable that a file would be important to someone but a random online purchase not.

> Yeah, keep living in your bubble. One rarely needs to type an IP address to use a modern fiber optics internet connection. It's generally pre-cofigured.

Sure as hell never was for me across 2 countries and 4 providers. Always required activation, and ISP instructions often had you go to the router portal.

Granted I didn't use their router after activation, but 192.168.1.1 (or 0.1) is something users are guided to.

I cannot claim that every ISP will require this, but in my experience it is "many", which in turn exposes at least one individual in a household.

> Yes, and I am always going to choose the QR code

Go ahead - no need to go on a pointless vendetta when your preferred option is right there.

> The average individual must pay bills, and that involves copying payment details. Here, that means copying numeric payment details - either a special bill number or bank details.

Payments happen mostly through apps here. So people don't have to type numbers.

Even if they have to use bank account details or card details to pay, only one person in the household generally does that. If your target user is that one person, then you will be fine.

> Likewise if you work in an office you may be confronted with invoices paid by bank transfer.

If you work in an office, you will be specifically trained for that. Your file transfer app can't as people don't have the patience to read through your guide.

> There is nothing that would support this claim. It is quite conceivable that a file would be important to someone but a random online purchase not.

As I said, instead of going through the hassle of typing IP addresses and making sure both devices are on the same network, people will just send the file over messaging apps or email. They will use your file transfer app if and only if it is as easy or easier than say WhatsApp.

> Sure as hell never was for me across 2 countries and 4 providers. Always required activation, and ISP instructions often had you go to the router portal.

Idk, but I didn't have to. Or even if it is required, a technician will most probably do it for them. Moreover if you keep your router in default configuration, you don't need to configure most things. Only power users get into that stuff.

> Go ahead - no need to go on a pointless vendetta when your preferred option is right there.

I am just trying to put my opinion forward. I generally use nearby share on Android.

> Payments happen mostly through apps here. So people don't have to type numbers.

In EU, Giro//SEPA is used for most formal electronically paid bills. Electricity, internet, rent, fines (parking, speeding, ...), tax adjustments, whatever. Where I live, it would be impossible for an employed adult to not be confronted with such non-app payments occasionally.

But even then, people need to enter CC details at regular intervals, they may deal with multiple, and even if they could get familiar with them they change as CCs are renewed or replaced.

> If you work in an office, you will be specifically trained for that.

That training makes you able to copy long sequences of unique and mostly meaningless numbers without error, exactly the skill required here.

> As I said, instead of going through the hassle of typing IP addresses and making sure both devices are on the same network, people will just send the file over messaging apps or email.

If either user installed the app they likely have a reason to not just send it by email (larger than email limit, internet speed), whatsapp (not a user, not installed, no trust), or airdrop/nearby share (support) in the first place.

Being on the same network is of course a restriction, but that's the whole premise of the app. I'd also consider any smartphone user able to connect to a WiFi network, and "be on the same one" while more technical seems like a manageable task. The assumption is not that the average user will think of making a portable hotspot, but rather that they find WiFi to connect to (e.g., home or office).

It would be neater to use WiFi P2P, but that's also trickier.

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