Browser start screens with a large search box in the center haven't helped either. Some users do see no difference between the location-field and this search box. Some have even unlearned this. Arguably, it facilitates ignorance of the location, the significance of URLs and how they work. Reading a URL isn't witchcraft, it's just about three simple things. But dumbing things down towards convenience at the expense of consistency will not empower users.
(Surprisingly, ordinary people have been able to manually dial a phone or to parse a street address without the help of a map service in the past. It can't be that bad.)
Browser start screens with a large search box in the center haven't helped either. Some users do see no difference between the location-field and this search box. Some have even unlearned this. Arguably, it facilitates ignorance of the location, the significance of URLs and how they work. Reading a URL isn't witchcraft, it's just about three simple things. But dumbing things down towards convenience at the expense of consistency will not empower users.
(Surprisingly, ordinary people have been able to manually dial a phone or to parse a street address without the help of a map service in the past. It can't be that bad.)