Coe's Summer explorations of self-learning, discovery and play in the world of Web 2.0.
About 13 Things
Our Summer 2014 version of 13 Things begins the week of May 19. Let the THINGS begin!
Monday, May 26, 2014
Week 2: Top Ten Tips
As a follow up to our readings and discussions in last week's post: You're Distracted, let's take a lighter (and shorter) approach. Following is David Pogue's TED2013 talk "Top 10 Time Saving Tech Tips". Pogue is a tech columnist for the New York Times and in this five and a half minute clip he shares ten simple time-saving tips. Many of these you'll probably know, but perhaps one will surprise you!
Have you already figured these out on your own? If not, jot a note in the comments and share what you learned. If so, do you have a simple tip to share?
I have one:
Don't both clicking File>Print. In almost any application, CNTL + P or Command (Apple Key) + P will open the print dialogue box for you. Hands don't have to leave the keyboard!
These are mildly interesting tricks. The Ctrl-+ trick would have been good to know when my collaborator complained about the size of the type when I'd send him an e-mail.
On the other hand, as someone who took Typing in 1972, "period-spacebar-shift-capital" is second nature to me. It would take longer and require more brain engagement to learn the other way and remember to use it than it would to do it the way I've always done it.
Pogue's presentation of various ways to save yourself precious seconds makes me wonder why we're in such an all-fired hurry. Maybe typing slower would allow our brains to catch up with what we're saying?
I am surprised to realize I didn't know many of these! I considered myself pretty informed about some of these things, but I seem to learn a new trick every day!
Thanks for sharing! My new favorites are going to be the space bar to scroll trick, and the recall function on my smartphone.
I found out something new: use the spacebar to halt a YouTube video! (I was trying out Pogue's suggestion of spacebar to scroll, and it stopped the video.)
I have a touch screen on my laptop, so some of these will help me avoid screen smudges.
Also: David Pogue! His columns in the NYTimes are fun to read.
If you're planning a vacation and want to know what the weather is for your vacation destination, just type weather & city name or weather & zip code.
Oh, and Lonnie, when you're as old as I am, there's no way to quit double spacing between sentences. That's the way it was taught to me in the 60's and while you can teach an old dog new tricks, it's hard to unlearn things you've been doing for over 40 years. Sorry!.
The space key to stop a video is great! Thanks for sharing Jane.
I have a question -- does anyone know how to flip between Word documents on a Mac using keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse? I end up working across multiple Word documents quite often, and I know a keyboard shortcut for that would save me a lot of time!
Thanks again for the thought-provoking posts, Lisa!
A good companion to Ctrl-p for print is Ctrl-f for find. It's very commonly implemented, and handy when compared to poking around various menus in Acrobat, web browsers, and various other applications which hide the command in various strange places.
And Lonnie, your fixation on the upstart one space between sentences strikes me as a bit of a shame. I like the perspective of http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/how-many-spaces-after-a-period/ on the topic.
I like any little tips that help me navigate more easily. I generally am slow to adopt them but when fully used, I can't imagine life without them. I was not aware of the space bar scrolling and can't stop doing it now.
Pretty soon we won't need any of these as we will control the world wide web and our personal computers with our thoughts and eyes. All of our years of typing will be behind us.
I have found out that Google knows just about anything if you just type it in there- the flight updates updated faster than my text alerts from the airline on my recent vacation which was much more convenient anyway.
I love the double space trick on the smart phone- that is news to me and that is excellent!
I still subscribe to the theory of 2 spaces after a period Lonnie and Jon. I think I was taught that in typing class in Junior High and it has stuck with me ever since. I do it on my phone as well and it will put a period in for me at the end of the sentence.
I recall viewing this video a while back. I think that's where I adopted the 'space bar' to scroll down (though with a MacBook I usually just drag two fingers). However, I hadn't remembered the Google function for flights or the B/W keys for blanking a PPT screen (a little easier than pressing the 'Screen Mute' button on the podium). I, too, am in the 'double space' camp.
These are mildly interesting tricks. The Ctrl-+ trick would have been good to know when my collaborator complained about the size of the type when I'd send him an e-mail.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, as someone who took Typing in 1972, "period-spacebar-shift-capital" is second nature to me. It would take longer and require more brain engagement to learn the other way and remember to use it than it would to do it the way I've always done it.
Pogue's presentation of various ways to save yourself precious seconds makes me wonder why we're in such an all-fired hurry. Maybe typing slower would allow our brains to catch up with what we're saying?
Scrolling up and down web pages is simplified, if I can remember the trick. Now how do we get people to unlearn double spacing between sentences?
ReplyDeleteI am surprised to realize I didn't know many of these! I considered myself pretty informed about some of these things, but I seem to learn a new trick every day!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! My new favorites are going to be the space bar to scroll trick, and the recall function on my smartphone.
Love the shift + space to scroll back to the top. Who says you can't teach an old dog a new trick?
ReplyDeleteI was pleased to find that I already knew a some of these and even happier to have several new ones to use- especially the space and scroll trick!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI found out something new: use the spacebar to halt a YouTube video! (I was trying out Pogue's suggestion of spacebar to scroll, and it stopped the video.)
ReplyDeleteI have a touch screen on my laptop, so some of these will help me avoid screen smudges.
Also: David Pogue! His columns in the NYTimes are fun to read.
Good tips - many I didn't know!
ReplyDeleteIf you're planning a vacation and want to know what the weather is for your vacation destination, just type weather & city name or weather & zip code.
Oh, and Lonnie, when you're as old as I am, there's no way to quit double spacing between sentences. That's the way it was taught to me in the 60's and while you can teach an old dog new tricks, it's hard to unlearn things you've been doing for over 40 years. Sorry!.
The space key to stop a video is great! Thanks for sharing Jane.
ReplyDeleteI have a question -- does anyone know how to flip between Word documents on a Mac using keyboard shortcuts instead of the mouse? I end up working across multiple Word documents quite often, and I know a keyboard shortcut for that would save me a lot of time!
Thanks again for the thought-provoking posts, Lisa!
A good companion to Ctrl-p for print is Ctrl-f for find. It's very commonly implemented, and handy when compared to poking around various menus in Acrobat, web browsers, and various other applications which hide the command in various strange places.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lonnie, your fixation on the upstart one space between sentences strikes me as a bit of a shame. I like the perspective of http://theworldsgreatestbook.com/how-many-spaces-after-a-period/ on the topic.
I like any little tips that help me navigate more easily. I generally am slow to adopt them but when fully used, I can't imagine life without them. I was not aware of the space bar scrolling and can't stop doing it now.
ReplyDeletePretty soon we won't need any of these as we will control the world wide web and our personal computers with our thoughts and eyes. All of our years of typing will be behind us.
Who leaves messages on phones any more?
Great tips - always enjoy the TED talks!
ReplyDeleteI have found out that Google knows just about anything if you just type it in there- the flight updates updated faster than my text alerts from the airline on my recent vacation which was much more convenient anyway.
ReplyDeleteI love the double space trick on the smart phone- that is news to me and that is excellent!
I enjoyed the new tips, and will remember the define word, weather word etc!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to blackout my screen during a presentation. Some new tricks. I'll have to make a goal to implement one a day so I remember them!
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to block out someone else's presentation!
DeleteGood to know these new tips. BTW I LOVE Google!
ReplyDeleteI still subscribe to the theory of 2 spaces after a period Lonnie and Jon. I think I was taught that in typing class in Junior High and it has stuck with me ever since. I do it on my phone as well and it will put a period in for me at the end of the sentence.
ReplyDeleteFun presentation.
ReplyDeleteThis was great! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI love Ted talks. Thanks Lisa!
ReplyDeleteOK my generation is showing , I didn't know very many of these tricks but will certainly be putting them to use in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe cell phone tricks should improve my texting which my children will all tell you could benefit from improvement!
I made a list...so I will try the ones I did not know!!!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI recall viewing this video a while back. I think that's where I adopted the 'space bar' to scroll down (though with a MacBook I usually just drag two fingers). However, I hadn't remembered the Google function for flights or the B/W keys for blanking a PPT screen (a little easier than pressing the 'Screen Mute' button on the podium).
ReplyDeleteI, too, am in the 'double space' camp.