Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Douglas G Pratt, 2013
Monday, January 7, 2013
My Voice Will Go With You - Sketchnotes Book Summary
In previous posts I have written about handwritten projects. A new technique I learned about last fall is called "sketchnoting." Though many examples are available online, two of my favorite sketchnoters are Mike Rohde and Sacha Chua.
Below is my first effort. The book, My Voice Will Go With You, is a collection of teaching tales from psychiatrist Milton Erickson.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Tracking Amazon Purchases
In my last post I discussed the option at Amazon.com to download order reports. The results of my reports for 2011 and 2012 provided data for the chart below.
When comparing the end-of-year total for each year, I see that I spent about half as much in 2012 as 2011. This chart and the one below use data from business-related books.
Additional analysis comparing books purchased directly from Amazon (new books) and from other vendors via Amazon (used books) reveals the following.
I purchased approximately the same number of books, and the result was that I spent half as much in 2012 as I did in 2013. For me, purchasing used books is a successful money-saving approach.
Take data that is available in your life and think about ways to analyze it and identify trends.
Additional analysis comparing books purchased directly from Amazon (new books) and from other vendors via Amazon (used books) reveals the following.
Take data that is available in your life and think about ways to analyze it and identify trends.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Amazon Orders
One of the best designed websites for online shopping is Amazon.com. Amazon's site contains a variety of settings and reminders designed to enhance your shopping experience and, of course, maximum the company's revenue.
Used vs New
I purchase most of my books via Amazon. It addition to its new book. sales, Amazon sells books and other items from third party vendors. Thus, it is extremely easy to purchase used books.
A search for any book will likely yield a variety of quality and pricing options to purchase a used copy, even for books that are out-of-print. I have purchased books for $0.01!
Amazon Order History
A feature of Amazon that is also helpful is the ability to generate and download order history reports, going back several years.
Once logged in to your Amazon account, select Your Account. From the list choose Download Order Reports.
This will open a series of fields where you can enter your search criteria.
A report will be generated that opens in Excel or Numbers, is saved for future reference, and sent as a link to your e-mail.
(C) 2012 by DouglasGPratt.com
Used vs New
I purchase most of my books via Amazon. It addition to its new book. sales, Amazon sells books and other items from third party vendors. Thus, it is extremely easy to purchase used books.
A search for any book will likely yield a variety of quality and pricing options to purchase a used copy, even for books that are out-of-print. I have purchased books for $0.01!
Amazon Order History
A feature of Amazon that is also helpful is the ability to generate and download order history reports, going back several years.
Once logged in to your Amazon account, select Your Account. From the list choose Download Order Reports.
This will open a series of fields where you can enter your search criteria.
A report will be generated that opens in Excel or Numbers, is saved for future reference, and sent as a link to your e-mail.
(C) 2012 by DouglasGPratt.com
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Use Dropbox to Store and Share Files
If you are over 20 years old, you may remember a time when apples were eaten, clouds floated in the sky, and tweeting is what birds did outside your window. Today, these still occur, but these words have taken on a life of their own with the company Apple, Twitter app, and cloud storage.
The "cloud" refers to shared storage areas that are web or network based so that your files can be accessed from multiple devices, whether computer, tablet, or smart phone.
Set up Dropbox
Dropbox is a service that lets you access stored files from a variety of devices.
Recently, I joined a Flickr group titled The Sketchnote Handbook, created by Mike Rohde to serve as a sharing area for people who use creative note taking techniques. Mike's book, The Sketchnote Handbook (see the tie-in to the Flickr group?), is available for pre-order now.
One of the sketchers I noticed in the Flickr group is Sacha Chua. As her website and Twitter information is listed on every sketch, I ended up at her website.
Share files on Dropbox
Sacha frequently shares sketches via Dropbox. This was my first experience with shared files in Dropbox. The ability to share files with others (even non-Dropbox users) is very convenient, especially if the files are large, you have several files, or simply want to control access to the files.
One of the folders that is available in Dropbox is the "Public" folder. Any files you place in this folder can easily be shared with others simply by using the link provided for each file. Click on the link below to view the image file for the picture above.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3eahtjkmflb60jv/Photo%20Dec%2005%2C%209%2027%2003%20PM.jpg
Use the link below to join Dropbox
If you are interested in joining Dropbox, please click this referral link. You will be able to get started with your own account and I will get additional free space (you can refer people too).
Do you already use Dropbox? If so, or if you sign up, let me know.
The "cloud" refers to shared storage areas that are web or network based so that your files can be accessed from multiple devices, whether computer, tablet, or smart phone.
Set up Dropbox
Dropbox is a service that lets you access stored files from a variety of devices.
- Step 1. Visit www.Dropbox.com to create an account.
- Step 2. Download the software and install on your computer.
- Step 3. Download the Dropbox app to your smart phone and tablet (link is to the Apple iTunes App Store).
- Step 4. Begin storing your files! Easily manage files by creating folders.
Recently, I joined a Flickr group titled The Sketchnote Handbook, created by Mike Rohde to serve as a sharing area for people who use creative note taking techniques. Mike's book, The Sketchnote Handbook (see the tie-in to the Flickr group?), is available for pre-order now.
One of the sketchers I noticed in the Flickr group is Sacha Chua. As her website and Twitter information is listed on every sketch, I ended up at her website.
Share files on Dropbox
Sacha frequently shares sketches via Dropbox. This was my first experience with shared files in Dropbox. The ability to share files with others (even non-Dropbox users) is very convenient, especially if the files are large, you have several files, or simply want to control access to the files.
One of the folders that is available in Dropbox is the "Public" folder. Any files you place in this folder can easily be shared with others simply by using the link provided for each file. Click on the link below to view the image file for the picture above.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/3eahtjkmflb60jv/Photo%20Dec%2005%2C%209%2027%2003%20PM.jpg
Use the link below to join Dropbox
If you are interested in joining Dropbox, please click this referral link. You will be able to get started with your own account and I will get additional free space (you can refer people too).
Do you already use Dropbox? If so, or if you sign up, let me know.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
My iPhone Camera Apps - Set 1
With each successive version of Apple's iPhone, the camera has improved. Although I only have the 4S model, I understand that the camera on the 5 is the best yet.
Including cameras and supporting apps, I probably have 40-50 photography-related apps, with 30 of these on my iPhone right now! Our entire trip to Korea was captured using iPhones.
With a computer-based program like Adobe Photoshop, there are numerous features included in one piece of software. However, apps usually have one or two functions.
Below is a screen shot of the first set of apps. A brief description of each follows.
Including cameras and supporting apps, I probably have 40-50 photography-related apps, with 30 of these on my iPhone right now! Our entire trip to Korea was captured using iPhones.
With a computer-based program like Adobe Photoshop, there are numerous features included in one piece of software. However, apps usually have one or two functions.
Below is a screen shot of the first set of apps. A brief description of each follows.
- PhotoSize. This simple, free app gives the dimensions of the selected photo.
- Flickr. This is the official app for the Flickr photo sharing and storing site. Upload multiple, full resolution photos.
- ColorSpash. Convert a photo to black-and-white while keeping selected areas in color.
- BeFunky FX. This app allows you to create effects such as cartoonizer, inkify, and grunge.
- Collage. Create a collage with multiple photos. The app allows you to arrange photos and even use a photo as a background.
- iQuikDof. Blur out selected areas to given a tilt shift or bokeh type of appearance where parts of the photo are out of focus.
- iWatermark. Add a text or graphic watermark to your photos. You can now compete with Olin Mills!
- PS Express. This app from Adobe is a basic photo editor.
- Strip Design. Create your own comic strips. I use the functionality of this app to quickly put multiple photos together when I don't need to artistically arrange them as with the Collage app.
- ComicBook. Similar to Strip Design, you can create comics. This app features several effects that resemble actual comics such as manga, sketch, and toon.
- SimpleResize. If you need to take photo and repixelate it, so that a 4x6 needs to be 8x12, this app will add in the extra pixels. Though not fancy or too precise, its basic functionality is good.
- Photogene. This is a basic photo editor that has several effects and the ability to auto correct photos.
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Personal Project Management
Project management is a business discipline focused on achieving a specific goal. Project managers are responsible for planning, identifying resources, tracking work performed, and ensuring that all components of a project stay on schedule.
Requirements
As key aspect of project planning is a determining the requirements of the customer and using those requirements to evaluate vendors or products to determine the best fit for the needs of the customer.
You can also apply the use of requirements determination and evaluation for personal decisions including trips, services, and products.
Step 1 - Write it down.
There is tremendous power in writing things down. People who write down goals are more likely to follow through with completing them. Additionally, written records permit you to track progress over time.
Step 2 - Identify 4 to 5 characteristics.
On your paper write down some characteristics that are important to you about the product or service. Examples might be cost, features, materials, ease of use, etc. A list of 4-5 requirements is usually sufficient.
Step 3 - List each option you are considering.
You will end up with a table on your paper with requirements going down the left side and options listed across the top. It may be helpful to limit what you are considering to 3 to 4 options.
Step 4 - Weight each requirement.
In advance, determine the importance of each requirement. This should be a weighting based on a total of 100%. For example, suppose you are considering the purchase of a new refrigerator. If price is the most important factor, it might be assigned a weight of 50%. The location of the freezer drawer may be important. You might assign freezer location a weighting of 30%. Cubic capacity might be the last factor with a weighting of 20%.
Step 5 - Score each requirement.
Assign a score to each requirement. Keep the range of scores small, such as 1 to 5 or 1, 3, 5. Using our refrigerator example, if Brand A is $500 and Brand B is $1,000, Brand A might receive a score of 5, while Brand B would receive a score of 1.
Step 6 - Calculate the total weighted score.
Take the requirement score for each option and multiply it by the weighting (percentage) previously determined. Total the weighted scores. The end result will hopefully be a clear winner with which option best meets your requirements.
Using the refrigerator example, Brand A seems like a better choice based on the importance of each requirement. In this example, we wanted an inexpensive unit with side freezer, but definitely not a bottom drawer. Finally, Brand A had a smaller capacity but met the price requirement.
In the next post, I will show two of my own uses of this type of evaluation.
Requirements
As key aspect of project planning is a determining the requirements of the customer and using those requirements to evaluate vendors or products to determine the best fit for the needs of the customer.
You can also apply the use of requirements determination and evaluation for personal decisions including trips, services, and products.
Step 1 - Write it down.
There is tremendous power in writing things down. People who write down goals are more likely to follow through with completing them. Additionally, written records permit you to track progress over time.
Step 2 - Identify 4 to 5 characteristics.
On your paper write down some characteristics that are important to you about the product or service. Examples might be cost, features, materials, ease of use, etc. A list of 4-5 requirements is usually sufficient.
Step 3 - List each option you are considering.
You will end up with a table on your paper with requirements going down the left side and options listed across the top. It may be helpful to limit what you are considering to 3 to 4 options.
Step 4 - Weight each requirement.
In advance, determine the importance of each requirement. This should be a weighting based on a total of 100%. For example, suppose you are considering the purchase of a new refrigerator. If price is the most important factor, it might be assigned a weight of 50%. The location of the freezer drawer may be important. You might assign freezer location a weighting of 30%. Cubic capacity might be the last factor with a weighting of 20%.
Step 5 - Score each requirement.
Assign a score to each requirement. Keep the range of scores small, such as 1 to 5 or 1, 3, 5. Using our refrigerator example, if Brand A is $500 and Brand B is $1,000, Brand A might receive a score of 5, while Brand B would receive a score of 1.
Step 6 - Calculate the total weighted score.
Take the requirement score for each option and multiply it by the weighting (percentage) previously determined. Total the weighted scores. The end result will hopefully be a clear winner with which option best meets your requirements.
Using the refrigerator example, Brand A seems like a better choice based on the importance of each requirement. In this example, we wanted an inexpensive unit with side freezer, but definitely not a bottom drawer. Finally, Brand A had a smaller capacity but met the price requirement.
In the next post, I will show two of my own uses of this type of evaluation.
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