| "You write down the problem. You think very hard. Then you write the answer."- Richard Feynman |
| THINK PAGE 3 |
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I am naturally disposed towards my
daughter's comics.
I read them at Sally-Bloodbath.
daughter's comics.
I read them at Sally-Bloodbath.
Merlin Mann at 43 Folders has published results of several studies about the
myth of Multitasking. As has been consistently reported, it is counter productive.
Study #1 concludes: When humans attempt to perform two tasks at once,
execution of the first task usually leads to postponement of the second one.
The NY Times reports: In a recent study, a group of Microsoft workers took, on
average, 15 minutes to return to serious mental tasks, like writing reports or
computer code, after responding to incoming e-mail or instant messages. They
strayed off to reply to other messages or browse news, sports or entertainment
Web sites.
In my experience, multi-tasking is not usually driven by a desire to be more
efficient. Rather, we become habitual when faced with a computer screen while
talking to others. The screen demands attention, mail demands to be read and
responded to.
One of the most annoying sounds you can hear on a conference call is a
coworker typing furiously on an email while someone is talking. Blackberrys and
Pocket PCs promote not only rudeness, but lower grade work. I am guilty of this
as well.
If we learn to stand our anxiety about obeying the screen and spend time
listening, we would all be working shorter hours.
myth of Multitasking. As has been consistently reported, it is counter productive.
Study #1 concludes: When humans attempt to perform two tasks at once,
execution of the first task usually leads to postponement of the second one.
The NY Times reports: In a recent study, a group of Microsoft workers took, on
average, 15 minutes to return to serious mental tasks, like writing reports or
computer code, after responding to incoming e-mail or instant messages. They
strayed off to reply to other messages or browse news, sports or entertainment
Web sites.
In my experience, multi-tasking is not usually driven by a desire to be more
efficient. Rather, we become habitual when faced with a computer screen while
talking to others. The screen demands attention, mail demands to be read and
responded to.
One of the most annoying sounds you can hear on a conference call is a
coworker typing furiously on an email while someone is talking. Blackberrys and
Pocket PCs promote not only rudeness, but lower grade work. I am guilty of this
as well.
If we learn to stand our anxiety about obeying the screen and spend time
listening, we would all be working shorter hours.
“I was surprised by how easily
people were distracted and how
long it took them to get back to the
task,”
- Eric Horvitz, a Microsoft research
scientist
people were distracted and how
long it took them to get back to the
task,”
- Eric Horvitz, a Microsoft research
scientist
Supposedly, Transformers was designed to be very difficult to pirate. The entire film was not
available as a complete film until a couple days before theater release, and the second can
was secured by a combination lock.
Still, during the release week in China I saw the film playing on almost every laptop in use in
airport waiting rooms. These versions were camcorder versions, but for about $1, seemed to
satisfy the needs of a young Chinese consumer.
There has been a lot of talk, recently, about releasing digital versions of a movie at the same
time as a theater release. This makes sense, especially considering the speed of illegal copy
dissemination. The other aspect to consider would be a price low enough to discourage copies.
Since technology and planning is unlikely to prevent intellectual theft of movie material, a new
approach to consumer distribution would appear to be in order. Most of us still prefer to see the
big films on a screen - the question is capturing more business from the pirates.
available as a complete film until a couple days before theater release, and the second can
was secured by a combination lock.
Still, during the release week in China I saw the film playing on almost every laptop in use in
airport waiting rooms. These versions were camcorder versions, but for about $1, seemed to
satisfy the needs of a young Chinese consumer.
There has been a lot of talk, recently, about releasing digital versions of a movie at the same
time as a theater release. This makes sense, especially considering the speed of illegal copy
dissemination. The other aspect to consider would be a price low enough to discourage copies.
Since technology and planning is unlikely to prevent intellectual theft of movie material, a new
approach to consumer distribution would appear to be in order. Most of us still prefer to see the
big films on a screen - the question is capturing more business from the pirates.
You may have heard this true story. In two years, Canadian Kyle MacDonald used a
combination of Craig's List, Ebay and other communication to trade a red paperclip up
to a house in Saskatchewan. The trail is amazing and convoluted.
Stops include:
A hand-made E.T. doorknob
Fish-shaped pens
Snow globes coveted by TV stars
Alice Cooper and William Shatner
Kyle's web page tells the story, offers stories and merchandise, and reflects his
intelligence and sense of humor ("...slow news day? Give me a call"). Visit his website
for some amazement and inspiration.
combination of Craig's List, Ebay and other communication to trade a red paperclip up
to a house in Saskatchewan. The trail is amazing and convoluted.
Stops include:
A hand-made E.T. doorknob
Fish-shaped pens
Snow globes coveted by TV stars
Alice Cooper and William Shatner
Kyle's web page tells the story, offers stories and merchandise, and reflects his
intelligence and sense of humor ("...slow news day? Give me a call"). Visit his website
for some amazement and inspiration.
Click on the image to view the Digg Arc - a rather stunning
flash widget. The arc is fed constantly, and it rotates,
showing you the popularity of stories, sites and events as
they are 'digged' from thousands of Digg users.
In a way, the system is like the amazing 10x10 image/story
site. 10x10 focuses on the published popularity of news
stories, while the Digg Arc reflects topics that interest web
users in general.
This is a fascinating look at how interested people are in
brands, products, entertainment, anything. You can slow or
speed up the information feed, and click through to the
stories that generated the interest.
Color-code show you the fluctuating popularity of any given
story.
flash widget. The arc is fed constantly, and it rotates,
showing you the popularity of stories, sites and events as
they are 'digged' from thousands of Digg users.
In a way, the system is like the amazing 10x10 image/story
site. 10x10 focuses on the published popularity of news
stories, while the Digg Arc reflects topics that interest web
users in general.
This is a fascinating look at how interested people are in
brands, products, entertainment, anything. You can slow or
speed up the information feed, and click through to the
stories that generated the interest.
Color-code show you the fluctuating popularity of any given
story.
I first heard of guerrilla drive-ins from the British
marketing newsletter, Springwise. Imagine my surprise
to discover a leading event right in my home town of West
Chester, Pa.
John Young runs it and does a wonderful job. He packs a
16mm projector in the sidecar of his motorcycle, and
chooses movies and strange locations appropriate to the
film's content.
For example, my daughter and I just attended a screening
of The Life Aquatic held in an open courtyard of an old
building on the premises of a local diving equipment
supplier. Open sky, friendly crowd, our own comfortable
lawn chairs - unbeatable entertainment!
Check John's site and his interesting blog.
marketing newsletter, Springwise. Imagine my surprise
to discover a leading event right in my home town of West
Chester, Pa.
John Young runs it and does a wonderful job. He packs a
16mm projector in the sidecar of his motorcycle, and
chooses movies and strange locations appropriate to the
film's content.
For example, my daughter and I just attended a screening
of The Life Aquatic held in an open courtyard of an old
building on the premises of a local diving equipment
supplier. Open sky, friendly crowd, our own comfortable
lawn chairs - unbeatable entertainment!
Check John's site and his interesting blog.
Elvis Is Alive Museum owner Bill Beeny, 81, showing
me how to give an Elvis 'pistol' greeting.
me how to give an Elvis 'pistol' greeting.
Elvis has finally left the building. The Elvis Is Alive
Museum in Wright City, Missouri is closing, its assets
sold off to someone in Mississippi, the home state of
Presley.
I loved visiting the museum, as it was filled with all
sorts of books offering DNA proof that Elvis faked his
death - Bill, the owner would happily show you the
stacks of FBI reports that he felt substantiated the
case.
Best of all was a tape of Elvis calling in on a cell
phone to sing along with a band playing hits created
long after his demise.
Museum in Wright City, Missouri is closing, its assets
sold off to someone in Mississippi, the home state of
Presley.
I loved visiting the museum, as it was filled with all
sorts of books offering DNA proof that Elvis faked his
death - Bill, the owner would happily show you the
stacks of FBI reports that he felt substantiated the
case.
Best of all was a tape of Elvis calling in on a cell
phone to sing along with a band playing hits created
long after his demise.