Sat, 26 Jun 2010

Ideas Come at Strange Times

I recently saw a blog about notepads. The idea was to have one available at all times. I'd like to extend that thought a bit. Ideas come to me at the oddest times -- most of them inconvenient to actually write them down. Then, of course, I can't remember that great idea I had in the shower or while driving to work. So I carry a number of notepads with me. Here are a couple of ideas.

Pocket Notebook: I have a simple notebook and pen in the car and one in my bag for quick notes. I also carry a compact pen to give me a writing implement where ever I can find a piece of paper (even my hand in a pinch!).

Smart Phone: I'm a bit behind the times, but I do carry a blackberry for work. It synchronizes with Exchange and I can enter a memo, task, or send an e-mail with the idea. Of course, this doesn't work if I'm in the shower or driving. The phone also has a camera which can be used to capture visual ideas and a voice recorder for capturing speach. Unfortunately, these are difficult to operate while driving, for example, even dangerous to use because of the distraction of getting them set up. I have even been known to call my work phone and leave a message with a good idea.

Digital Voice Recorder: I carry a small, simple voice recorder. It has one hand operation and is great in the car or other places for "jotting down" a quick note to myself. Playback is equally simple. If I'm going to be in the car for an extended period, I will sometimes fire it up and have it ready as long trips tend to be one of those places where something will stimulate an idea.

Microsoft OneNote: This is one of the greatest note taking and thinking programs I have found. It makes it very easy to jot down ideas, organize them, capture websites, and generally get thinking in order. I keep notebooks on a USB stick and can work on them. I have used the Microsoft Skydrive and the online OneNote to track things when the program is not available. Not as functional as the thick client, and I wouldn't trust more than the most mundane notes to the "cloud", but functional.

In short, the idea is to be able to capture your thoughts easily in a form which can later be retrieved and expanded upon.

posted 10:04 [/Thinking] permanent link