In the real world, 8% surveyed (by Google) in Times Square knew what a browser was.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MwTvtyrUQ&feature=playe...
Now try explaining difference between URL bar and Search bar in Safari, Firefox, etc... Give up yet?
I wonder if that survey relates to why Google decided the OS should be the browser, so people might actually use Chrome. ;-)
Best mantra for web design isn't "Web 2.0", it's "Don't Make Me Think."
Exactly.
My mom, who is in her early sixties and is considered to be very proficient in how to use the Internet among her peer group, can't seem to get that there's a difference between the Google search box and the address bar - she just searches for "cnn.com", clicks on the first result, and gets there. And when you think about it, this is a fine process for her - she doesn't understand/care about the way the internet actually works, but she has a routine (punching it all into google) that always gets her near where she's trying to be.
She also can't get her head around that hitting Enter submits a form - she'll type it in, and then click on the search button. 100% of the time.