Modern cars are complicated yet reliable so why are computers difficult to use and unreliable? Part of the problem is that IT is a young profession compared with engineering - cars used to break down. Nowadays all cars have the same human interface (steering wheel, pedals etc.) but there is no accepted standard for computers. However I think inadequate skills are a significant issue too. We learn to drive and have to pass a test, if we didn't we would probably crash. Yet most people expect to sit at a computer and 'drive' it without issue. The European Computer Driving License (ECDL) is one attempt to equip people with a basic set of computer skills.