Posts filed under ‘Tech Tip’
After the Brainstrom
Sometimes I see people cling to old habits, even though there are clearly easier ways to do things. I am not talking about something that would require a new computer system and a large IT project. Just day-to-day stuff. Here is one example…
I love whiteboards. I love to use them to brainstorm ideas. Once upon a time SmartBoards were popular. They were a way cool, but expensive, way to capture those notes on paper. They are no longer necessary. An average digital camera can capture a large whiteboard with enough detail to preserve and share your moments of inspiration. I find a camera needs to be at least 5 megapixel to get the desired resolution, so cameras on mobile phones (including BlackBerrys and iPhones) are less than ideal. Like most gadget lovers I upgrade cameras frequently. So my former primary shooter becomes my work phone.
While the .jpg files straight from the camera work fine there is a free web service that will make those images even better. You can upload your images Qipit.com, which will turn them into PDF files that are much more readable. [Update: on 25 October 2009 I received an email from Qipit stating that they were shutting down their online service.]
This tip applies to those giant easel pads. Don’t carry out all that paper. Your digital camera is a great way to capture those too.
Bonus tip: if you have a whiteboard in your office, keep whiteboard wipes on your desk.
