by Scott on August 15, 2006
Repetitive stress injuries caused from long and continuous rounds or working at the computer can result in damage ranging from mild discomfort to extreme damage requiring surgery. If your career depends on your ability to be working with a computer almost every day you MUST take time now to get your posture right and your workspace setup right. There are lots of good resources on the web (search Google for “RSI” or “ergonomics”) regarding proper posture, workspace setup, monitors, chairs, etc. This post is just a recommendation to everyone to get and use an ergonomic keyboard, at the least.
After a hard week of typing to complete papers and postings for my masters degree, I felt discomfort in my hands and wrists. This was my wake up call. My business would be dead in its tracks if I could not type for any period of time.
I immediately began researching ergonomic keyboards and found that the Microsoft Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000 had received mostly positive reviews from users. I have had mine for about two months and love it! It is very comfortable and also completely customizable (in the soft sense, not form-factor) through the software that is included or can be downloaded from Microsoft. Take the time to program the keys along the top and you can have instant access to the tools you use the most.
The keyboard improves my productivity in two ways. It allows me to comfortably and ergonomically type all day long. It also encourages the use of keyboard shortcuts because of its software (found in System Preferences on my MacBook Pro) and because of its dedicated “Web/Home”, “Search” (which I’ve reprogrammed to bring up Spotlight), “Mail”, volume, “Calculator” (which I’ve reprogrammed to bring up Widgets), “Back”/”Forward” (great for web browsing and easily accessible to your thumbs), and five keys labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 that I have programmed to launch, or bring to focus if already launched, various apps I use often. There is a “Zoom” slider that I never use that I wish would have been setup to scroll instead of zoom.
Go get one (or any other recommended ergonomic keyboard) and your body – and your career – will thank you for it.
Posted in Productivity
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by Scott on August 11, 2006
Interested in entering a random drawing for one-hundred-bucks? I don’t have any cash for you, but Ruby Insider folks might (actually – they don’t have cash for you either, only PayPal payments). Note that this is designed to encourage new material so is only for posts originally written between now and about August 19th. I am heading into an intense Ruby programming marathon, where I expect to be eating Ruby, dreaming Ruby, drinking Ruby, and occasionally tripping over Ruby/Rails (as with a lot experiences in life, the frequency of tripping will likely directly correlate to the quantity of drinking). So I’m looking forward to see what people submit.
Click here for details and good luck!
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by Scott on August 06, 2006
Track your prospects, leads, and marketing campaigns.
Track your leads with LeadsOnTracks.com. It will be a new way to put your sales and marketing efforts on track. A “track” is simply a series of steps, each step assigned to a person and given a date due. Define your tracks and help everyone on the team follow best practices.
We want to make lead and prospect management something you will actually use. Let us know what you would put into your product to keep your leads on track. We have several ways to keep in touch.
Click here to see the product site
Click here to see the demo account.
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by Scott on July 28, 2006
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by Scott on July 28, 2006
I attended the Denver on Rails User Group, aka “Derailed” last night at the Tattered Cover bookstore downtown Denver. There were about 20 folks there in various stages of Rails experience. Some having worked with it from the start and some just starting. Some guys were excited to be working in Rails full time and others were enviously watching from their non-Rails day jobs.
While I just sat quietly and contributed nothing, what struck me most about the group in general was everyone’s willingness to share knowledge and the general excitement over Ruby on Rails. Despite the looks of bewilderment in many IT professionals’ eyes while they scratch their head and wonder what all the fuss is about, I can tell you that people do get excited about the framework and what it means to their work. People are making serious systems with Ruby on Rails. The excitement level is growing at such a fast clip that the next Railsconf is going to be one like never seen before (RailsConf 2007 – May 17-20, 2007 – Portland Oregon) – everyone is going to be wishing they were at Railsconf.
Until then, find a local Rails user group or other Rails conferences and training events. If you are in the Denver area and interested in Ruby on Rails, I recommend joining this fine group of developers. More information at the Derailed google group.
There were two live, hands-on presentations. Both presenters did a good job and the work they put into their talks encouraged me to visit again and hopefully someday have something to present. I will not repeat the presentations here but urge you to visit:
Phil Ripperger’s presentation on Rails and Web Services.
Kevin Williams also gave a talk on What’s New in Rails 1.2. Example code is available here.
Thanks Phil and Kevin.
I plan on being at the next Derailed meeting.
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