Apple, the ultimate source of all things innovative, recently came out with a new product: The Magic Trackpad. Have you seen this? Basically... they have taken the finger-touch-pad technology that comes on many laptops and have made an accessory that you can use with a desktop to replace your mouse.
This cracks me up. Who are the people that want this device? If you have ever used a laptop with a trackpad, you know that trackpads are incredibly annoying! Most people that do a lot of work on a laptop buy a portable mouse so they don't have to use their trackpad!
But I do trust Apple.... and they always know what I should have and what I should be doing with my computer. So I guess I am going to buy a portable mouse to use with my laptop so I don't have to use the laptop's trackpad and a Magic Trackpad for my desktop so that I don't have to use the desktop's mouse. What do you think?
Everyone has that special something to help them navigate the cubicle maze and survive office life. There’s a guy down the hall from me that religiously gets a Dunkin’ Donuts coffee every morning. And one of the women in our office decorates every inch of her cubicle as if it was a historical family album. I even have one friend that is in love with a pen.
Now, me… I’m addicted to gloves.
When I got out of grad school, it was the height of the internet boom and I was running my own web development company. The demand for web services was insane and pulling long days and nights coding was standard. My body held up a little while… but the pain in my wrists and back soon notified me that ergonomics was key. I started trying wrist creams and special chairs and ergonomic keyboards… anything that promised relief.
That’s when I discovered the SmartGlove. And you have to be desperate to try these things, because when you see them in a picture… it looks like a terribly awkward thing to wear. But not so. They actually are incredibly comfortable and instantly relieve any wrist stress from typing. There is a semi-hard foam brace that helps keep your wrist contoured properly and a palm pad that keeps your hands curved naturally for the keyboard. Typing was never this enjoyable.
I honestly won’t work without these. I could, but I don’t. Which is great for my wrists and productivity. The only downside is I look like a complete idiot everywhere I go. Cause I wear them at home, in coffee shops, in our office, anywhere I get on a computer. The gloves only come in black, so it always appears like I’m about to enter an intense boxing match.
Our little Skylark media team is in the corner of this big office floor and we have a lot of gadgets (cameras, editing workstations, etc.). So when someone new comes to the company next to us, the conversation usually goes like this:
“Wow… who are those people in the corner with all the cool toys? And why does their leader always look like he’s getting gloved up to give me the smack down?”
Yes, I boldly endure laughs and giggles in order to advance SignUpGenius.com and complete our various video projects. But we never have to worry about the safety of all our equipment. Cause everybody knows that if someone ever tries something, I’m gonna unleash a big ol’ can of kick-butt typing on their head. And it won't even hurt my wrists.
COMMENTS:
Posted by Jack Lugar on Tue Jul 20, 2010 10:23 AM EST
That guy who loves his pens sounds really amazing.
I would travel to NC to see you in the octagon doing a little MMA. In fact, I think the gloves actually make you look a little cooler.
Remember The Jetsons? In the closing credits, George would always take his dog Astro for a walk on a space treadmill. Astro would start running after a cat and the treadmill would cycle out of control… leading George to yell “Jane! Stop this crazy thing!”
These days, I feel that way about life.
It seems like the treadmill of busyness has been cranked up to a breakneck pace… and none of us can get off. The intensity has seeped into every aspect of society, especially our families:
SPORTS: Remember when playing a sport meant you participated during one season at school? These days, playing sports means a year-round regimen of training, travel teams, camps, and tournaments.
CHURCH: It’s no longer enough to have a nice elderly woman teach our kids with a flannel graph. They now need to have a rock band, drama team, laser light shows, and be involved in at least 4 different small groups.
SCHOOL: It’s never a good sign when your elementary school has to send home a thick newsletter each week just so parents can keep up with all the fundraisers, science fairs, homework assignments, and field trips.
FAMILY: Today’s kids don’t have a chance to engage their imagination as we book them up solid with play dates, birthday parties, and mommy-and-me classes.
Technology plays a funny part in all this… because it can make life easier… but also accelerates the craziness. While it’s a heck of a lot easier to write a report for your boss using a word processor than a typewriter… now that we all have computers, your boss raises the expectations for how many reports you can write. With digital cameras and smart phones and color laser printers and home DVD burners… the expectations are now off the charts.
So I helped found SignUpGenius.com because I was pulling my hair out with the busyness of organizing. And as thousands around the country have found… it makes coordinating events a LOT simpler.
But…
The danger is that I now think I can plan and organize more things! Personally, I’ve struggled taking on too much now… and I’ve also seen activities grow in some organizations that use our site. Yikes! Is SignUpGenius.com just another tool that will completely destroy our society?
Man, I hope not. So, please… go out and organize your event with SignUpGenius.com and then promise me you’ll take the time you save and go take a bike ride with your kids.
If you really have to… you can take along your smart phone.
COMMENTS:
Posted by Jack Lugar on Wed Jul 14, 2010 2:33 PM EST
I'll admit I've placed a few phone calls while biking. I haven't mastered texting and biking yet.
Posted by Dan Rutledge on Wed Jul 14, 2010 3:57 PM EST
Yeah... if only it weren't so hard for FourSquare to figure out where you are on your bike!
Happy Fourth of July! I hope you have a great time with friends and family this weekend and that your dog makes it through all the fireworks without too much emotional damage! In honor of the holiday, here's 30 more reasons to celebrate! Check out these new looks you can give your sign ups!
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Like you need another blog to read, right? Well this one is completely different than anything you've ever read before!! Um... not really. But you can read it if you want to keep up on the latest SignUpGenius news and the off-beat thoughts of our co-founder Dan Rutledge.
That’s when I discovered the SmartGlove. And you have to be desperate to try these things, because when you see them in a picture… it looks like a terribly awkward thing to wear. But not so. They actually are incredibly comfortable and instantly relieve any wrist stress from typing. There is a semi-hard foam brace that helps keep your wrist contoured properly and a palm pad that keeps your hands curved naturally for the keyboard. Typing was never this enjoyable.
Our little Skylark media team is in the corner of this big office floor and we have a lot of gadgets (cameras, editing workstations, etc.). So when someone new comes to the company next to us, the conversation usually goes like this:
