The Genius Blog

The Greatest Technological Achievement of the Century

So I was watching television recently and saw a commercial for the new Gillette Fusion razor. Have you seen this? This amazing new razor has FIVE blades on it. 

A chill ran down my spine as I saw this thing. Like most men, I’ve spent a lot of time contemplating and dreaming about how many blades could actually be fit onto a single razor. Until recently, I subscribed to the traditional thinking of the scientific community… that the natural laws of physics have created certain boundaries that cannot be broken and should never be pushed… like maybe 4 blades was all that was physically possible and that going beyond that would cause irreparable damage to the entire space/time continuum.

But this gigantic tech leap forward blows that assumption out of the water and leaves me thinking… how far could we really push this? Could we get 8 blades? 12? 20? Could I eventually just hold a razor up to my face, turn my head to the side, and complete my entire shave with one stroke? With this new development, almost anything seems possible.

It makes me proud to be an American. I can just picture our founding father, George Washington, shaving with a dull knife by the Potomac and cutting his face. I bet if he had only known that one day he’d have helped found a country that would create a 5-blade device that can smoothly glide over your face while “massaging the skin” simultaneously… all those wars and challenges of establishing the nation would have seemed worth it to him.

It also makes me wonder... who are the guys that have done this? MIT or Harvard prodigies sequestered in some ultra-secret government research facility? Could we get them to put down razors for a couple years and just cure cancer before they start working on six blades?

I know one thing.  There's no way I'm shaving with three blades anymore.  That's like... as old and outdated as MySpace.

The new product from Apple that cracks me up

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?

If I'm contributing to the downfall of society, please let me know.

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.
 

Why I refuse to buy an iPad

So you’ve probably heard of the iPad… unless you’ve been hiding under a rock for the last month. And even then, the rock probably had an Apple advertisement painted on it.

Yes, the iPad is here. Three million people have already shelled out $500 to say that they desperately need this electronic device, even though a few months ago the product category of tablet computers didn’t really exist.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Apple is an innovative company and this thing looks incredibly slick. It plays music and games, runs apps, shows movies, and is perfect for browsing the web and checking Facebook. Look, if someone wants to gift me one, I’m not going to complain or anything. And I’m not saying no one should get one. But I personally won’t be spending any money for one. And here’s why:

First, this thing is the definition of “toy.” Tons of fun, but basically doesn’t do anything I already can’t do with a more practical device… my laptop. I need a laptop for work as it has a better processor, larger storage, solid keyboard, and more advanced applications for getting work done. Yes, the iPad would be nicer for chillin’ on the couch, but I can’t see dropping $500 for that kind of difference. 

Secondly, for me, the iPad would be an unhealthy addiction machine. The last thing I need is some new ultra-portable device that enables me to spend MORE time on a computer. Seriously… if I had to make a list of all the things the iPad does best and all the things that I really need to be doing less of in my life… it would be the same list!

THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING LESS:

• Reading about sports
• Watching movies & TV
• Checking Facebook
• Playing video games
• Browsing the web

Honestly, what we all need much more than an iPad is a little unplugging! Is it just me or has our society gone a little overboard with “always on” tech devices? I have all these cool communication/entertainment devices, but am I really more connected to people? Am I more happy? Here’s the kind of stuff I really need:

THINGS I SHOULD BE DOING MORE:

• Going to dinner with my wife
• Playing basketball with my kids
• Visiting my parents
• Going to coffee with a good friend
• Playing board games with my family

Ok, you get my point. Maybe it’s a little stretch to call the iPad a symbol of all that is wrong with our materialistic, web-connected, tech-worshiping, entertainment-focused society. But it's close. And besides -- if you disagree, you can always buy me an iPad to change my mind. Preferably the 64GB version, ok?
 

Would Someone Please Invent This?

As you might guess from a guy that runs a website that lets you organize your entire life for free... I'm somewhat of a cheapskate.  And one thing that has been really bugging me lately is the telecommunications industry.  Over the last couple years, they've been expanding the fees that are required to keep you "connected" to the modern world.  Pull out your calculators for a quick breakdown of what you could easily lay out per month:

$25 landline phone
$80 family shared wireless plan for two people
$10 additional "texting" feature for two people
$60 data fee for internet on two phones
$50 high speed cable internet for your home
$50 basic cable TV package
--------------------------------------------
$275 per month

It's out of control.  And I'm not even taking into account the fact that I run a small business and therefore pay for a whole second set of internet and phone services for my office.  I am only one person - there is no reason why there should be so much redundancy in what I'm paying!!

So... this is where I want to see things go:

I want to buy 2 mobile-broadband USB sticks... that give me and my wife internet access everywhere for a single charge of about $50-60 bucks a month.  Something like a wimax 4G network.  These do exist.

But then I want routers setup at my home and office with a plug on the top of them for the stick.  I walk into work and plug in my stick to the router and presto... I have work internet.  I drive home, plug it in at home and have home internet.  

Next... the television networks would make sure all their shows are on the internet and I would then just start watching all TV through the web... eliminating any cable TV bill whatsoever.

Finally, the icing on the cake would be the invention of a mobile-phone-sized device that you can plug this internet USB stick into... and then you could make VOIP calls through Skype (for free or very low long distance cost) just like a cell phone.  Of course, you could also use the same device with the USB stick in the back of it... to browse the web or text through the internet.  And since Skype is so reasonable in cost, you could then drop your landline.

Final cost would be:

$60 two wireless everywhere USB sticks
$15-25 Skype fee for all phonecalls made through the internet
--------------------------------------
About $80 per month

It's getting closer... Clear.com has recently released a program that is the beginnings of this kind of system.  I'd like to see them go all the way.  After all, I'm not picky.  I just want internet, phone, text, and television everywhere I go for one single low cost monthly fee.  Is that so wrong?

I Think Video Games Have Destroyed My Kids

Last Saturday was a beautiful spring day here in Charlotte. So my wife and I, being the incredible parents that we are… decided that it was the perfect day for a special family outing. Gorgeous day, quality time with the kids, what could be better?

So I had this great idea… to take a family bike ride. We used to do that when I was a kid and I remember loving it. Back then, I had this very cool Huffy BMX dirt bike which was purchased from that high-quality bike super-store… Kmart. Of course, since I was a type-A first child… I never actually rode the bike in the dirt. And if I ever accidentally went through a puddle or something, I would spend the rest of the day washing and polishing the bike. But regardless, there was nothing better than my bike when I was a kid.

Wow. Times have changed.

First of all… it took us a half an hour to find the bikes in the garage. We had to sort through mounds of toys, motorized scooters, roller blades, nerf guns, kites, and inflatable water slide systems. Back when I was a kid, I had a bike and maybe a ball glove in the garage and that was about it. My kids have so much stuff, we had to remind them which bike was theirs. But I eventually got the tires all pumped up and we embarked.

That’s when the drama really started.

My younger son immediately broke into a sobbing ball of tears and whined: “I can’t get up this hill! My legs are aching! How much longer?!”  I assured him that it would get a lot easier… as soon as we got out of the driveway.

Unfortunately, it didn’t. Most of the entire bike ride (um… maybe 45 minutes?) was spent complaining and asking when we were going to turn around and go home. Granted, the ground wasn’t completely flat -- but this is North Carolina... not the Swiss Alps. And we weren’t exactly drafting each other for top speed. We encountered some hills and went at a normal pace, but to all but one of my four kids… it was like my wife and I were waterboarding them or something. My one daughter even described the ordeal afterwards as “the worst experience of her life.”  If that weren't enough, my younger son actually had to stay home from school the next Monday, in part because his legs and ankles hurt so much from pedaling!  I'm not joking!

So much for family bonding. As soon as we got home, my kids asked if they could go inside and play video games.

I couldn’t believe it… but I thought maybe my memory had faded or something, so I called my dad to ask him if I had complained about bike rides when I was a kid. He assured me I hadn’t. Actually, he said that when HE was a kid, back before parents had to be so safety conscious… he would go out on his own and ride his bike 15-20 miles… in the snow… while pedaling with only one leg. He said I was the one who had it easy.

I guess things must get easier for each generation. Can you imagine when my kids have kids? They’ll be telling their children… “Oh yeah? Well in my day we didn’t have video games that you could control with your mind. We had to USE CONTROLLERS with our OWN TWO HANDS until our thumbs ached!”

It does seems like kids these days are more interested in virtual exercise than real exercise. I cracked up the other day when my older son was telling our family that two of his favorite sports were “Tennis and Hockey.” We were all a bit confused, since this child has never held a tennis racket and never, ever played ice hockey. When asked how he knew they were his favorites, he replied: “I’ve played them on the Wii.”

So… I decided after that weekend that my kids definitely need more exercise. My kids are going to be tough and active, like I am. This weekend, I’m shipping them outside... no matter what they say. And then, while they are outside… I’ll sit down at the computer and spend a couple hours on Facebook.
 

The Ultimate Organizational Tool

For us type-A planners... finding the perfect organizational tool is like the quest for the holy grail. Personally, I'm always changing my system in the search for something better.  I started with the Psion Series 3c, circa 1996, right when PDAs were bursting onto the scene. It had a black and white calendar, folks!  In 1998, I stepped up to the sleek and hip Palm Pilot III, which in hindsight looks a little like a big cheap plastic brick. Additionally, I had to scribble each letter about four times before the Palm would correctly identify what I was trying to write. The Palm Tungsten E lasted me quite a while until I made the gigantic leap to a smart phone with the Treo 755p and a software-sync to Outlook. That was pretty darn cool. Still not satisfied, I wrote my own custom web app that would take data exported from the phone and publish it into interactive reports that could be shared online.

Yet... through it all... something was missing. No matter how these devices improved... I still found it just took too much discipline to make these tools useful. My quest had failed. 

Until now.

I've recently stumbled upon the mother of all organizational tools. Seriously. I'm kind of addicted to it. The interface is so intuitive and customizable that it has been revolutionizing the way I plan my day! Sorry Apple fan-boys, I am definitely not talking about the iPhone. What is this incredible piece of technology?

The paper notebook.

I'm really not sure how they came up with this thing. But it is blowing my other tools out of the water. Mainly... because I actually use it. The electronic tools always end up being a hassle. This thing is just so darn easy that it comes naturally. And using a basic tool is actually more effective than having a fancy tool and not using it.

Check out these cutting-edge features:

• Can be used during take-off and landings
• Insanely long battery life
• Includes a multi-color display if you use different colored pens
• You can double your memory without extra cost by turning over the sheet and using the back side
• Very GREEN.  Screen doesn't emit potentially harmful RF rays, can be completely recycled, no toxins used in the production
• Is a great gaming device including popular hits like "Tic Tac Toe" and "Hangman"
• Completely wireless
• You can talk on the phone and write on this thing at the same time
• Backwards-compatible with all brands of pens and pencils
• Priced at about $494 dollars less than the Apple iPad
• The completely customizable interface adjusts to how you want to use it
• Customizable "skins" with virtually any type of cover you want, including "Hello Kitty"
• Comes in both small and large screen sizes for those with poor eyesight
• The case is virtually unbreakable. Can be dropped from a height of more than six feet without damaging the unit
• Writing on screen can be viewed from all angles
• Compatible even with Windows Vista.

Anyway, I felt like I had to pass this tip along to all five of my blog readers. You can find one of these at all kinds of online retailers, including Amazon.com. I'm not getting a commission or anything. Just trying to help.

I can't wait to see what they think of next.

Community vs. Utility... and My Birth Order View of the Web

Lots of great changes coming for SignUpGenius in 2010.   It can be a tricky thing orchestrating the direction of a web property. There are a lot of possibilities and the challenge is prioritizing and creating a singular vision. Here’s a little debate that I’ve been having with myself lately… community or utility?

Everywhere you turn these days, community is the buzzword on the web. Though some people insist that we are transitioning into a new 3.0 age... to me it seems like the concept of web 2.0 (interactive communities and user-generated content) is really just starting to hit its stride with the masses. Grandma and grandpa now have Facebook accounts, your pastor and boss now have blogs, and pro athletes hire their own social media consultants.

As I mentioned in my last post, I’ve been a bit behind. It’s not because I’m not tech-savvy. I’ve been building web applications for 15 years. No… I think it’s a birth order thing… because honestly I was never much into the whole web 2.0 idea. To me, the web was all about productivity. Utility. It was a tool, not a playground. I visited websites that helped me get work done … like book an airplane flight, or manage my photos, or let me buy something 20% cheaper and 50% faster than I could do locally. As a job, I built corporate web applications that earned people real money rather than helping them reconnect with their high school sweetheart.

Like I’ve said, I’m a firstborn, type-A planner. I always thought I’d leave the Tweeting to those 3rd children in the family that just want to interact with people all day. SignUpGenius, up until recently, has reflected a bit of that thinking. It’s a productivity application designed to save time and avoid headaches.

However, in the last couple months, I’ve finally been realizing the advantages of the web for community. Yes, I’ll grudgingly admit that I’m actually enjoying Facebook. And I’ve been exploring ways that SignUpGenius could be more than a utility, but also a community of people that can help each other with their planning/scheduling/leadership responsibilities. Thus… we’ve recently added the blog and the resources tab with helpful tips and interactive commenting features.

But… I don’t want to get sidetracked from perfecting the useful functionality of SignUpGenius. That is still our priority. And with all the gobs of community sites out there… do you really even need any community features as part of SignUpGenius? What do you think? And be sure to say where you are in the birth order when you answer.

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