• Question: Is there a particular complicated problem that you haven't ever been able to solve that especially frustrates you? If so, what is it?

    Asked by anon-258146 to Will on 1 Jul 2020.
    • Photo: Will Furnell

      Will Furnell answered on 1 Jul 2020:

      Ooh that’s a good question! Luckily I don’t think I’ve really been in this situtation, as if there’s something that I really don’t know how to solve then luckily I’m able to ask my collegues or the Internet (Google, Stackoverflow, mailing lists, online chats), about my problem and find some sort of solution or workaround that way. Luckily with the Internet you’re never truly alone with problems, someone might not have done exactly what you are trying to achieve, but might have done something similar that can help somewhat!

      If things do frustrate me at the time, then I make sure to take a break from working on that particular problem, as that’s what helps me work through the hardest ones! So many times I’ve been about to fall asleep and I’ve thought of a possible solution (that doesn’t always work), or have more ideas the next day.

Comments

  • stevethomas commented on :

    In my job probably the most frustrating thing is the unpredictability of human behaviour. We design security controls to be as automated and simple as we can, but while people use systems it’s always going to be possible to attack systems by fooling the people who have legitimate access. And there are so many inventive ways to do the wrong thing! From the other perspective, as a user I am frustrated by the dumb controls those people in our security group expect me to follow. So the complicated problem is finding just the right balance between security and usability…

  • Photo: Martin

    Martin commented on :

    I am a neuroscientist, so your question covers pretty much the entire field of study! 😃