Computers, Software and Helping Organise our Lives!
Originally Published on "Isn't IT A Wonderful World" September 28th 2007. This is adapted from the original.
In thinking about organising myself over many years I developed a philosophy which enabled me to work through my outstanding task list and chase people at the appropriate time and be driven by overall priorities. When discussing this with a colleague recently he told me “Sound’s like David Allen’s Getting Things Done” also known under a dreaded three letter acronym of GTD.
Well knock me down with a feather it was – perhaps I should have written it down as I developed it, then I could have published the book and gained fame/infamy. It did not take me much to be convinced (although I still think David Allen’s method a little quirky in places – but that is not for here). With time my thinking is that we have to make some of the things we do more automated.
My point is: software is growing more intelligent as time passes. It has moved in leaps and bounds since 2007. In order for many software components to work properly they need to be integrated into a working philosophy. Today (2017) I use Evernote, Outlook, Word, Excel, Natural Reader, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, FreeMind, WordPress, Blogger, Hemingway Editor and other Software products regularly, but we need an interface layer that integrates all the things we need for whatever projects we are involved in.
Hence a need for some form of artificial intelligence, something which will tie all the parts together and operates between the boundaries of each individual software component.
You never know where you are when a brilliant idea comes to you. Some ideas though, need to be put into a traceable future action for it to be of any use. The start point for me is that I not things like this into Evernote, where I have hundreds of notes and ideas. But any note, any idea need something more to bring them to reality. You need to turn them into a set of actions or tasks. Some actions may be to complete a document, write a story, but others need to go much further. Research is needed. Other people need to be involved. Meetings need to be set.
This is the point where I need some help from a virtual, machine based, intelligent assistant. For example we find things of interest all the time on the Internet. It would be good to be able to ink these to become future action items. The key aspect is having having the aid of an Artificial intelligence to pick up some of the work. A complex set of tasks needs to be based around a largely hidden layer that understands I need to do something about this in the future and at the appropriate time helps me move projects forward. In the intervening time it has researched and saved all the appropriate links.
If my future task is “Build a Barn/Outbuilding where I can work and hold World Series parties away from the house”. Ideally, I want to start it in about a year, but realistically it will be as soon as I have the finance available (so more likely to be in 3 years time). When you are ready, all the relevant items will be available (even if pages no longer exist on the Internet) that relate to building the new barn. Research for any future project can be ongoing, either by manual effort or by automation. It is filed and forgotten about, but in the future it may become important. Also it may become a throw away (if it turns out to be irrelevant) but I can decide that at the appropriate time.
The point is projects are formed out of ideas, which are in turned fleshed out into something worthwhile. To support this a software layer is needed to support your ideas.
It is not a case of activating Cortana, Siri, or other device. These provide some fun, they fulfil a momentary need. The AI I need is something I interact with on a daily basis. It will find the things I need, almost without me asking. Support the projects I am working on, collecting and sorting the evidence required. It collects data for me, performs research. It will not be built into Outlook, nor will it be like Amazon Echo. Yes it can order things for me, read books, articles and web pages to me, take dictation etc. But it needs to be much more than that. It should be an intelligence layer that is like an operating system but has applicability to all applications.
In part it needs to learn to think like me and be me, when I am sleeping, or off doing human things such as having dinner, going to the theatre, or playing football (soccer).
Peter B. Giblett spent a lifetime within the Information Technology sector, specialising in Business Intelligence and Strategy. Although he is currently an editor and writer he still spends time thinking about advancements in technology, which is the goal of Cyber Ava.
Peter Giblett also produces another blog called GobbledeGoox, which focuses on writing, blogging, words and word-craft.
Organise our Lives
Well knock me down with a feather it was – perhaps I should have written it down as I developed it, then I could have published the book and gained fame/infamy. It did not take me much to be convinced (although I still think David Allen’s method a little quirky in places – but that is not for here). With time my thinking is that we have to make some of the things we do more automated.
Intelligent Software
My point is: software is growing more intelligent as time passes. It has moved in leaps and bounds since 2007. In order for many software components to work properly they need to be integrated into a working philosophy. Today (2017) I use Evernote, Outlook, Word, Excel, Natural Reader, Dragon NaturallySpeaking, FreeMind, WordPress, Blogger, Hemingway Editor and other Software products regularly, but we need an interface layer that integrates all the things we need for whatever projects we are involved in.
Hence a need for some form of artificial intelligence, something which will tie all the parts together and operates between the boundaries of each individual software component.
This is the point where I need some help from a virtual, machine based, intelligent assistant. For example we find things of interest all the time on the Internet. It would be good to be able to ink these to become future action items. The key aspect is having having the aid of an Artificial intelligence to pick up some of the work. A complex set of tasks needs to be based around a largely hidden layer that understands I need to do something about this in the future and at the appropriate time helps me move projects forward. In the intervening time it has researched and saved all the appropriate links.
Projects
The point is projects are formed out of ideas, which are in turned fleshed out into something worthwhile. To support this a software layer is needed to support your ideas.
It is not a case of activating Cortana, Siri, or other device. These provide some fun, they fulfil a momentary need. The AI I need is something I interact with on a daily basis. It will find the things I need, almost without me asking. Support the projects I am working on, collecting and sorting the evidence required. It collects data for me, performs research. It will not be built into Outlook, nor will it be like Amazon Echo. Yes it can order things for me, read books, articles and web pages to me, take dictation etc. But it needs to be much more than that. It should be an intelligence layer that is like an operating system but has applicability to all applications.
In part it needs to learn to think like me and be me, when I am sleeping, or off doing human things such as having dinner, going to the theatre, or playing football (soccer).
About the Author
Peter B. Giblett spent a lifetime within the Information Technology sector, specialising in Business Intelligence and Strategy. Although he is currently an editor and writer he still spends time thinking about advancements in technology, which is the goal of Cyber Ava.
Peter Giblett also produces another blog called GobbledeGoox, which focuses on writing, blogging, words and word-craft.
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