“A team from Google interviewed dozens of people in Times Square the other day, asking a simple question: What’s a browser? This was in an effort to understand and improve the customer experience of Google’s own browser, called Chrome.

Turns out that over 90% of the people interviewed could not describe what a Web browser is.”

Watch the video

I don’t think any of my non-techie family or friends could answer this question. I’m not sure I could adequately if a microphone was put in my face while I was out shoe shopping (its hard to swtich from thinking about a stacked heel to properly defining browser)  My parents use Firefox because I told them to, I don’t think they have any idea why.

But does it matter?  I know nothing about how my car works, I have no idea what’s actually involved in making it go, other than I turn a key, shift gears and apply the brake.  Does the average Joe need to know what a browser is or just how to get online?  I’m sure  a car enthusiastic will tell you my Saturn is not so hot, but I don’t care it works for me, it gets me from Point A to Point B.  Isn’t that how most people feel about their browser? Some of us are browser enthusiast, some of us aren’t.  If the average Joe only wants to get from Point A to Point B why does he need to know what a browser is?