Sunday, November 01, 2009

Age.  It grants wisdom, makes us reflect more, and creates an appreciation for life’s finer details.  It also makes us forgetful, shortsighted, and blind.

As a parent, I’ve found I can take my children’s youth for granted from time-to-time.  It’s easy to think of them as “babies”, however they grow up and remind me that I need to adapt to their changes.  It’s a great “ride” to be on, watching them grow and learn and come into their own, but it’s also an possibility where memories can get lost, at least the fear of them being lost and replaced.  You might be asking yourself, “where is he going with this?”.

The same applies to technology.
When I was first introduced to the Internet (at least AOL’s walled-garden version) back in 1995 I was in awe of a chat about Star Trek that I was having with someone in California.  The topic wasn’t what had me so amazed, it was the reality of what was taking place.  From my parents house in Wisconsin, I was exchanging thoughts and views with someone thousands of miles away.  That was one of my first realizations of how powerful this new network of people and ideas could be.

Now here we sit, almost 15 years later, and this network of people and ideas has grown and intensified.  Earlier this week I was having a great conversation on Twitter with Stuart Manning, a Web developer from Ireland.  It wasn’t until after the conversation ended that I became amazed at what just took place.  From my home in Wisconsin, I was exchanging opinions, and with someone in a country.  This was combined with the other experiences I’ve had with people from my own state and throughout the nation.  The awe from 14 years ago set in again.

The more things change…
With new ways to connect with one another emerging, seemingly each day, let’s not forget that original spark of “wow”.  It is that moment that made me interested in the Internet and what could be done with it.  As information flies at us and past us at break-neck speeds, take a little time off to step back from it all and remember where it all started.  Let that moment of awe seep back into your mind and inspire more innovation.

Sunday, March 08, 2009

We’ve all lived this scenario before; deadline approaching. Notes strewn about. Mass clutter all around. How do you focus on what needs to get done to complete a task? Sure there are tools that can be used, but which is the right one for and how do you make it work with your routine?

I’ve been asking myself this very question multiple times over the past year.  As project opportunities increase I’ve found the need to get a crystal-clear picture of what needs to be done and when.  After many Web service and software trials, I’ve found what works for me, and hopefully it can benefit you as well.

Rough drafts and brain drippings

When I start a project, I first turn to my sketchbook. I can rapid-fire thoughts and plans onto it as well as establish what the client wants, all in a nice tidy package.  Great, i’ve got my initial thoughts and some rough sketches down, now what?  I’ve got to get those ideas over to my computers (yes, plural) for expanding and finalizing.  Thankfully, there are a variety of tools that I use both individually and combined to get things done.

Evernote

After I signed up for the Evernote service, I scratched my head and wondered how I would work it into my routine. It wasn’t until recently that I started to understand the power of this service, and I find myself wondering how I ever got things done, or at the very least remembered things, before it.

What’s the key to Evernote’s power?  Syncing.  With applications for Windows, Mac, Mobile and iPhone platforms, not to mention an uber-handy Web interface, you can create notebooks, add, edit, and delete notes wherever you may be and then access them on the device of your choosing.  More importantly, you can write down a note when you want and not risk losing it to the rush of information that we deal with on a minute-by-minute basis.  Don’t feel like you need to whip out the laptop or smartphone every time you want to jot something down either.  Evernote does a great job of handwriting recognition that is searchable, so that note that was written in a sketchbook or on a bar napkin can be archived and found for later use.

Dropbox

With multiple computers comes great responsibility (apologies to Stan Lee).  What is that responsibility?  Keeping track and remembering where you placed your latest layout files and project notes.  I use two (sometimes more) computers on a daily basis and when I need to continue or start on a project, I’d better be sure I have what I need, especially when deadlines are looming.  Enter, Dropbox.

With Dropbox, my work life becomes much clearer.  Once set up and running on the machines I want, I have not only a local copy of my files, but as soon as I change those files, they are uploaded to “the cloud” and pulled down to any other synchronized machines.  Sounds great, right?  Picture it this way; you can be at your local Starbucks (or coffee shop of choice) making changes on your laptop, save what you’re working on, and by the time you walk out the door, those files can be waiting for you at home or at the office.

Getting things done

As mentioned earlier, it took me a while, not to mention much trial and error, but I’ve settled into a system that works for me.  Hopefully this can help clear some clutter for you too.

Monday, June 23, 2008

After reading about the death of George Carlin, a man that without doubt burned the candle at both ends, I’ve given thought to all of the people that I’ve drawn inspiration from.  George was on that list.  When I was either 15 or 16, I found “Class Clown” in my parents basement.  Not knowing much about him, I did what any adolescent would have done.  I put the record on and cranked it up.  As the needle reached the outer rings, I knew I was a different person than when the ride had started.  A change for the better.  Going forward, I pocketed his words, along with words of others and traveled forward on my journey.

Words

To quote George “All we have are words, really”.  Our lives are filled with words coming in from so many directions that it’s easy to lose track of who said what.  The words that stick with us the most, the ones that we pass along in the forms of advice and guidance, those are the ones that can be traced back to their original sources.  Parents, grandparents, friends, spouses, children and the occasional celebrity.  All of these sources define and shape us with their words, for they are all we have.  As a parent, I’ve realized the power that words have, and I work to wield them with caution and skill.

As life moves on, as it tends to do, I will use these words, learned from various sources, to help me along the way.  Thanks to those who’ve made their words worth remembering.

Thursday, October 05, 2006

I didn’t know “Digital” Bill Douthett personally, but I did listen to and anxiously await his new offerings of the Update Wizard podcast. Today I learned that Bill passed away and I am saddened that this man’s voice has been silenced. His podcasts were full of tech news and sprinkled with humor. I can only conclude by saying he will be missed, by family, friends, and his fans. Godspeed Bill.