Facts and Theories: Lessons from Recent Research

by E.M. Bennatan

There are observable facts, and there are theories. Some observable facts about software are that many more people are using it than a decade ago; it has become easier to handle -- graphic interfaces have enabled virtually everyone to use Web browsers and word processors (just a decade ago, software was much too cumbersome); and it has become a consumer product -- you can go into a store and buy software much like you would a book (which you could not do a decade ago).