TED Conference Video: Education Kills Creativity

Not much to say in addition, but watch this video. I only wish Sir Robinson would have provided a more concrete sample solution to the problem. Though, I suppose that giving concrete answers would defeat the point.



It's amazing. Here'e the direct link

Keyboard to a Man's Heart Part 3

Image via Wikipedia You should know by now how much I love the keyboard. I try very hard to convince people to shun the mouse (and especially their laptop touchpad) and start using the keyboard.

I constantly rack my brain trying to understand what are the sticking points preventing keyboard adoption and how I can overcome them. Productivity gains are not enough for most people (for some crazy reason). Despite the fact that you obviously don't care, I will continue to plead my case.

I think there are a few factors at work here. People are generally frightened of computers. They don't understand the design of the technology. They are scared to look through the advanced features and make changes. (I worked in technical support, so I have seen just how ignorant people can be when it comes to computers. Even remembering two different passwords can be a herculean feat.) On top of that, it takes some effort to learn a new trick. I've heard this a few times, 'For me, the mouse will always be faster'. No way. Not possible. Especially not if you're starting with your hands on the keyboard. Sure, it might take a minute to learn the shortcuts, but trust me they make your life a whole lot easier.

In order to simplify the world of keyboard shortcuts here are some ways to think about navigating Microsoft programs from the keyboard (some apply to Apple, generally by switching ALT for the Apple key)

• ALT + TAB - cycles through open programs
  
• SHIFT + ALT + TAB - cycles backwards through open programs
  
• CTRL + TAB - cycles through open windows within a program (this works in most programs, but not all, and is especially great when using tabbed internet browsing)
  
• SHIFT + CTRL + TAB - cycles backwards through open windows within a program
  
• ALT + F4 - closes a program
  
• CTRL + F4 - closes a window within a program
  

You may have noticed a pattern. ALT works at the global level and CTRL works within the programs. SHIFT will shift the direction of your actions for some commands.

Another key tip to keep in mind is that windows keyboards have the menu key. I call this the right-click key because it brings up the right-click menu that you would get from the mouse. Sometimes faster than knowing the actual keyboard shortcut to perform a specific action.

The other windows specific key that you should know about the Windows Key. There are a few keyboard shortcuts associated with this, but for me, the best one is just that it brings up the start menu and with that, access to all your programs with just a few keystrokes. For example, you hit Windows Key + P to open the programs list and then pressing the first letter of your program name will take you there. In Windows Vista, the start menu has been improved by providing you a search bar that you can just type in what you're looking to open and it brings it right up.

Lastly, you should definitely be aware of the generic ARROW KEYS and PAGE UP/PAGE DOWN keys. These bad boys will let you easily scroll down a webpage or document you are using and are a million times faster than going to that stupid scroll bar at the right side of the screen.

So, those are all good tips. I use them constantly. Frankly, if this is the first you've heard about ALT+TAB, welcome to the first day of the rest of your life.

I'll leave you with this bit of wisdom to help you implement this in your daily life: (it's not even just for the keyboard)
If you use Microsoft Powerpoint, I have a couple of really good tips. First, always use snap to grid and snap to shape. Then, you can select items (using TAB to cycle through the objects on the slide rather than the mouse). Move those objects into place using the ARROW KEYS. By keeping snap to grid on and using the arrow keys, you can be sure that your objects are nicely aligned. If for some reason, you need more granular control, you can use CTRL+ARROW KEYS to move as though snap to grid was off (though I'm not sure why you would want to do that). You could also use ALT+the mouse to do the same thing (occasionally useful for resizing objects). This tip is especially useful for consultants working on laptops while on the road (with that awful touchpad).

I'll be back with more tips on making the keyboard the focus of your computer input devices. If you'd like special one-on-one sessions, I am available for private tutoring. I already have one McKinsey consultant 'raving about the keyboard shortcuts' I introduced into his life.

Now, get out there and try using those shortcuts!

Relevant Sources of Information

• Windows XP Shortcuts
• Office Keyboard Shortcuts 
• Apple Keyboard Shortcuts
• Firefox Keyboard Shortcuts
• Lifehacker Tips on using the Keyboard
  

The future is here and it is the mobile web

The mobile web is coming. The most popular example right now is the iPhone's mobile version of Safari. In my limited experience with it, I've found it to be very good. Apple is not the only one out there with a browser though. I briefly mentioned Opera Mini in my most recent review of the iPhone vs. Blackberry decision. There is also SkyFire. And, Mozilla is rumored to be working on a mobile Firefox (you know how I feel about the full version).

My experience with Opera Mini has been fantastic. It really does render pages like they would be on my computer. It works similarly to mobile Safari by browsing around the page using either the keypad (2, 4, 6, 8) or trackball to move around the page and 5 or a ball-click to zoom in. It's not quite as slick as Safari and it's finger gesture navigation, but it gets the job done. Plus, with Opera Mini, you can save pages for later viewing, which I love to use for rides on the subway. I only wish there were a way for me to download unread RSS feeds to my blackberry and have it sync when I get back in range, automatically. (Aside: if you've heard of an app like that, please let me know).

You may be concerned with the speeds I'm getting on the EDGE network with AT&T. I have no problems with it. And, from what I've been reading about the iPhone 3G, it isn't as good as advertised.

The one thing that both Opera Mini and mobile Safari lack is Flash. Skyfire has flash. That is HUGE. There are so many websites that do not work without Flash. Youtube and Hulu are the most obvious, but there are tons of others (and, yes I know that youtube is on the iPhone, but they had to build a specific program for it, it's not the standard flash site). To me, getting mobile flash right first give Skyfire a huge, first-mover advantage.

However, all of these mobile web browsers have a problem of availability. Opera Mini is available on most mobile phones. I have it on my blackberry with AT&T, but you can also use it on windows mobile (e.g., Blackjack and others), Palms and Nokia's Symbia OS. For some reason, on Verizon, only customers with a blackberry can get it. Skyfire is available only on Windows Mobile (and probably has the same issue with Verizon, but I haven't verified that). And obviously, Apple, being the selfish bastards that they are, have kept safari only on the iPhone and prohibited anyone from installing a 3rd party web browser.

All in all. Get yourself a data plan and download one of these mobile browsers. It'll be much cheaper than getting an iPhone and will help you wait until Apple fixes some of the issues it's been having, or at least gets mobile flash working.

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Google reader improves sharing-still not mobile

Image via CrunchBase, source unknown In case you were waiting to get yourself involved with google reader and RSS feeds in general, google reader introduced granular sharing. You can now set up groups of people to share with. For me, this was never a huge issue, but there were people that thought it was a big deal.

I know that I sing the praises of Google Reader. The truth is that I love RSS in general and the sharing aspect of Google Reader a great addition. There are other features that I would like to see (such as an easier way to make my RSS feeds into a downloadable/syncable 'newspaper for my cell phone'). I'm considering giving bloglines or newsgator a try. Potentially even a (GASP) desktop based RSS client.

Update: I've noticed that newsgator has a mobile version that syncs with its servers. I'm definitely going to give this a try and will report back. First impression: I'm not a huge fan of the online RSS reader.

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My Apartment Search Part 3

So, I found an apartment in the East Village. I'm extremely excited about it. It's a great place. It has an open kitchen. Will get some new appliances. Is only 3 blocks from the subway. I really like the neighborhood. I'm ready to become an East Villager.

I'm a yuppie and, apparently, that is a bad thing again. As a yuppie, I do feel mildly bad about the gentrification of the East Village and how my arrival is a part of it. I'm also aware of how the 'locals' hate me. Regardless, I'm embracing the neighborhood in all it's tattooed glory. I've only been living here a short while, but I've already found a bunch of great places. There is a great burrito place on St. Mark's Place called Chipotle that only serves naturally raised meat. And on Houston, just a few short blocks away is a great little grocery store called Whole Foods.

Seriously though, I do hope that the East Village can keep some of its 'charm'. I hope the neighbors continue to keep their tattoos and piercings, despite my suit-wearing yuppie ways wandering in. The area has great (and relatively inexpensive) restaurants and bars and shops. One of my next steps here is finding all the good ones. I'm even going to try to hit up local hardware and miscellaneous stores (as soon as I find them) for my random apartment needs. It's been too easy to default to Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot, and with them being across town I'm cutting them out.

I expect that living in the EV while it struggles to maintain its character while the residents turnover (and are priced out) will be an interesting experience. What I think is funny about it is that people talk about the East Village and Punk as though one never existed without the other. The East Village has only most recently been associated with Punk Rock, before that, it was something else entirely (but I have no idea what). The evolution of neighborhoods in New York is a fascinating topic, and one that I know nothing about. It amazes me that neighborhood lines have been so clearly defined for so long and that the vibe can change so drastically from one avenue to the next. All over New York people fight to get landmark status for every foot so that it never changes. I'm all for respecting the past, but at some point, you need to move forward. What if the tenements of the early 1900s were landmarked as reminders of an important time in New York's history? Would anyone actually be in favor of that? Does anyone who has lived in the EV for the last 30 years really want to go back to the crime of the 80s? Am I, a suit-wearing yuppie, that much worse than a gun-toting mugger? (Note: That's a dramatization. I admit ignorance about what type of crime was going on here in the 80s)

I'm not sure where I come out on the whole issue of gentrification/preservation. In my gut, I feel like I don't belong here, but I love living here. I'm against every neighborhood looking the same (glass walled condos, Chipotle, Whole Foods, etc.) I want to embrace the hyper-local culture and become a part of it (I need to get some black pants and converse). At the same time, how can I really feel like a part of it? I commute to midtown to work for a giant, faceless corporation and come home to a neighborhood where every inch of every person is different from the one next to it. For me, it's important to have that feeling of out-of-place-ness while walking home in a suit. But, I realize that I am most certainly either a part of the engine of change for this neighborhood or proof that it has lost its soul.

What do you think? Am I overreacting? Where do we draw the line between history and progress?

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