24% Internet Users Can Not Find Google

[Suren]

24% Can?t Find Google -- Jordan McCollum

This week, usability guru Jakob Nielsen asks: ?How difficult is it to perform a search on Google??

No, really. How hard is it? We know the search box in the upper right hand corner of your screen can get there. We know that Google.com in the address bar can get there. But, sadly, Nielsen?s study indicated that at least 24% of Internet users don?t know that. It hurts me just to type it.

A quarter of Internet users said they wanted to search Google for something, but when placed in front of a computer, couldn?t figure it out. ?Instead, they either completely failed to get to any search engine or ended up running their query on a different search engine ? usually whatever type-in field happened to be at hand.?

Nielsen breaks this mind-boggling stat down for us:

On the one hand, 76% is a high success rate. On the other hand, getting to Google is a very simple task. It?s not even a true task ? that is, it?s not something users want to accomplish for its own sake or something we?d pose as an assignment in user testing. Getting a Google search box is the first step in searching the Web, which is only the first step in doing something real (such as, in one of our test tasks, to find ?a strong vacuum cleaner that is easy to use, can pick up pet hair, and costs under $300″).

Also, for this round of research we?re deliberately recruiting above-average users, so the success rate across all Internet users is probably lower than our finding.

Suddenly, The Onion?s article a few months back about ?TheGoogle.com? doesn?t look quite so funny:

All you have to do to turn the website on is put the little blinking line thing in the cyberspace window at the top of the screen, type ?thegoogle.com,? and press ?return??although it will also recognize http.wwwthegoogle.com, google.aol, and ?THEGOOGLE? typed into a Word document.?

Maybe there?s a real need for remedial Internet?

Nielsen?s overall point was to remind us all that our average user, and the web audience at large, doesn?t understand the Internet the way we do. Unfortunately, I think the net effect of his findings will be lowered self-esteem among SEMs and a generalized funk to last over the next several days. (Exacerbated, of course, by your alma mater losing in the first round of the NCAAs. Again. Come on, I know I?m not the only one. I know you Drake fans are mad, too.)

http:For people claiming that this test was performed with idiots they describe how the users were chosen here:ed with idiots they describe how the users were chosen here:

Plus here is the original test page:[/b]r-skills.html

Plus here is the original test page:

http://www.useit.com/alertbox/designer-user-differences.html

Edited March 22, 2008 by Suren

[Sethos]

Inbreeding ...

[PL_ Veteran]

If they can't find Google how are they supposed to find anything else on the Internet?

[Pupik]

I'm on the other hand know where's Google, but can't find anything with it :(

[HoochieMamma]

Maybe they should Google it.

[SLeeM@N]

And how they managed to open "the Internet" ?

[.KICK]

Maybe they should Google it.

:laugh:

24% does seem a high number though :s

[monkey13]

Ah I just love stats with no context at all, 64% of them turn out to be inaccurate.

[night_stalker_z]

Doesn't surprise me considering IE is the only browser not to have Google as a default search.

[Mr. Chronopoulos]

Also, for this round of research we?re deliberately recruiting above-average users, so the success rate across all Internet users is probably lower than our finding.

Ah I just love stats with no context at all, 64% of them turn out to be inaccurate.

If you had actually read the article, you would have seen that sentence. Context: the test subjects were chosen from a group of above-average internet users. Now you may ask what is defined by "above-average" and that is certainly a question to be taken into consideration, but the general consensus appears to be that an above-average user is one who uses the Internet more than once a week. There's your context. Next time, read the article and, as always, Google it with any questions.

[randomnut]

I knew there was 1 girl on the internet, but 24% of internet users are teh w0mens?

JOKE!!! Before persephone or whoever else takes offense, none intended! :)

[Angel Blue01]

I've only heard one person say "the google" that's my networking teacher, she's Chinese and doesn't speak English very well but I have seen lots of people type google into their browser's start page (AOL, Yahoo, Altavista).

[zeta_immersion]

someone explain me how to get to Neowin ... i am trying to post a messege about how to write on Neowin but cannot seem to find it .. please HELP ASAP

[Suren]

I've only heard one person say "the google" that's my networking teacher, she's Chinese and doesn't speak English very well but I have seen lots of people type google into their browser's start page (AOL, Yahoo, Altavista).

Ahem "George Bush" Ahem

[tiagosilva29]

My mother has to type www.google.pt in the address/location bar.

I've only heard one person say "the google" that's my networking teacher, she's Chinese and doesn't speak English very well but I have seen lots of people type google into their browser's start page (AOL, Yahoo, Altavista).

In Portuguese: a Google | o Google.

"A Google" is feminine, coming from "A (companhia/empresa[company/enterprise]) Google".

"O Google" is masculine, coming from "O (s?tio web[website]) Google".

[Gamerhomie]

I definitely believe many people cannot find Google. Look at this:

My dad bought our first computer back in the mid 90's and ever since then I've used it and he's used it. Almost 15 years. And to THIS day he still cannot work around basic functions. He knows what Google is (he doesn't know how to use it very well) and he can type (though very slow, one letter at a time) and he can save files (I set it up for him so it saves to the desktop because he doesn't know what folders are, or what the desktop is, etc..)

And after these 15 years, he still asks me almost every time he gets on on how to perform these actions. Is he ever going to learn? I don't think so. I think just because he's one of those people.

[The Laughing Man]

I definitely believe many people cannot find Google. Look at this:

My dad bought our first computer back in the mid 90's and ever since then I've used it and he's used it. Almost 15 years. And to THIS day he still cannot work around basic functions. He knows what Google is (he doesn't know how to use it very well) and he can type (though very slow, one letter at a time) and he can save files (I set it up for him so it saves to the desktop because he doesn't know what folders are, or what the desktop is, etc..)

And after these 15 years, he still asks me almost every time he gets on on how to perform these actions. Is he ever going to learn? I don't think so. I think just because he's one of those people.

Oh no, hes's one of them! -zombie points and screams-

[monkey13]

If you had actually read the article, you would have seen that sentence. Context: the test subjects were chosen from a group of above-average internet users. Now you may ask what is defined by "above-average" and that is certainly a question to be taken into consideration, but the general consensus appears to be that an above-average user is one who uses the Internet more than once a week. There's your context. Next time, read the article and, as always, Google it with any questions.

No I saw that. Simply saying "Above average users" doesn't cut it. Above what average? Time spent on-line, difficulty of tasks performed, etc. Also how is this average defined. I couldn't give a monkeys what the "consensus" of this is. It isn't defined in that article.

Who are these people? What nationality, age, sex, etc. These things make a big difference.

This whole thing is just to generate a statistic to gain publicity. 100% of people with "above average" intelligence know that.

[Nashy]

Wow.

I knew someone who uses google to surf. Eg.

*Goes to google*

In the address bar types "www.domain.com"

And clicks the first result...

[+StevoFC MVC]

Wow.

I knew someone who uses google to surf. Eg.

*Goes to google*

In the address bar types "www.domain.com"

And clicks the first result...

A few people do that where I work. most annoying thing ever.

[(Spork)]

24% Can?t Find Google -- Jordan McCollum

This week, usability guru Jakob Nielsen asks: ?How difficult is it to perform a search on Google??

No, really. How hard is it? We know the search box in the upper right hand corner of your screen can get there. We know that Google.com in the address bar can get there. But, sadly, Nielsen?s study indicated that at least 24% of Internet users don?t know that. It hurts me just to type it.

A quarter of Internet users said they wanted to search Google for something, but when placed in front of a computer, couldn?t figure it out. ?Instead, they either completely failed to get to any search engine or ended up running their query on a different search engine ? usually whatever type-in field happened to be at hand.?

Nielsen breaks this mind-boggling stat down for us:

On the one hand, 76% is a high success rate. On the other hand, getting to Google is a very simple task. It?s not even a true task ? that is, it?s not something users want to accomplish for its own sake or something we?d pose as an assignment in user testing. Getting a Google search box is the first step in searching the Web, which is only the first step in doing something real (such as, in one of our test tasks, to find ?a strong vacuum cleaner that is easy to use, can pick up pet hair, and costs under $300″).

Also, for this round of research we?re deliberately recruiting above-average users, so the success rate across all Internet users is probably lower than our finding.

Suddenly, The Onion?s article a few months back about ?TheGoogle.com? doesn?t look quite so funny:

All you have to do to turn the website on is put the little blinking line thing in the cyberspace window at the top of the screen, type ?thegoogle.com,? and press ?return??although it will also recognize http.wwwthegoogle.com, google.aol, and ?THEGOOGLE? typed into a Word document.?

Maybe there?s a real need for remedial Internet?

Nielsen?s overall point was to remind us all that our average user, and the web audience at large, doesn?t understand the Internet the way we do. Unfortunately, I think the net effect of his findings will be lowered self-esteem among SEMs and a generalized funk to last over the next several days. (Exacerbated, of course, by your alma mater losing in the first round of the NCAAs. Again. Come on, I know I?m not the only one. I know you Drake fans are mad, too.)

http://www.marketingpilgrim.com/2008/03/24...ind-google.html

that 24% of the people need to sell there pc and move back in to the cave imho they will be the majority of people that get bashed with a virus and effect others

[Andre S. Veteran]

A lot of people don't see the difference between Google, the internet, the web, a web browser, their home page, and the address bar, even after using the internet for years. It's troubling.

For instance, if you give them the address of a site, they'll type the address in Google, and of course Google will return a link to the site which they will happily click on. But all clicking on the link does is type the address in the address bar and hit enter...

Next, they will be completely lost if you change their home page to something other than what they used to have, often Google.com or MSN.

[devHead]

A lot of people don't see the difference between Google, the internet, the web, a web browser, and the address bar, even after using the internet for years. It's troubling.

I would tend to agree with you; this is the same cross-section of people who think that their operating system is Word, Microsoft Office is the same as Windows (Windows contains the program Word, or they are simply the same thing). They also refer to their desktop background still as their screensaver. Explorer is what they surf the Web with, and the Internet has no connection with E-mail.

[Hum]

Why would you want to use 'Google' ? :rolleyes: Lots of other Search engines out there.

[Mango]

i tried tpying thegoogle and all those other variants in the 'cyberspace window' but nothing came up... thegoogle is so hard to find!