Client conference call, with a need to discuss multiple images from multiple subdirectories. Want to EASILY go back and forth between these images, not necessarily sequentially, but based on the conversation. (BTW, I invited them to my PC via GoToMyPC, and I gave them access to my keyboard and mouse.)
NOT SO HOT SOLUTION
What opens by default for me, Windows Photo Gallery, doesn’t have perfect, predictable back and forth action, doesn’t provide for one click hopping to an image that’s not next in it’s concept of “order”, and doesn’t seem to go between multiple directories. Oh, it also doesn’t always seem to scroll all images in the subdirectory I’m in either.
COOL SOLUTION
Open up Firefox. This probably works in IE, but I’m a Firefox Fan, so that’s what I’m describing here. Drag the first image to a tab. It opens in all its glory, displaying the image name on the tab (an argument for meaningfully naming your images.) Open another tab (Ctl-T). Drag the next image to tab. Open up another tab….you get the pattern here, right? Want to display an image from another subdirectory? Go to that subdirectory, drag the image to a tab.
Now, my client and I can both see all the images I have open in Firefox, and we can easily go back and forth between them. And, because I gave my client access to my keyboard and mouse virtually, they can easily interact with these tabs, too, without having to know or touch my subdirectory structure.
One more Firefox tip you can use for this situation? You can use Firefox as a way to navigate through your subdirectory structure, too. Just go to the URL address bar, and type in c:/ and press enter. Watch what happens! It shows your C: drive directory structure. Change drive letters to access other drives. Navigate up and down the structure. Open up a new tab, and drag an image you find in this tab to the new tab. Okay, the TRUTH is that you don’t even have to open a new tab. Just drag it next to another tab, and it opens a new one on its own.
Now, this solution is completely self-contained. Enjoy your new Firefox Collaboration Station!
Coming Soon: Another Great Client Call Tool, and Firefox Tab Pollution Solution. Want to know when I’ve written them? You know how it works…subscribe to this blog.
I spoke recently at the Women’s MBA lunch, a group organized by Lisa Cummings, owner of Fine Homes Austin. Lisa gave me the scoop on a great source of information, available right there on my phone.
No more waiting for your web browser to load on your phone! Text 466453 (GOOGLE), and tell it what you want to know. Google will even tell you how to use this service by texting help to itself.
Get an address for a restaurant, find a zip code or phone number, get directions, do a currency conversion, find a price for a new treasure…the possibilities are endless.
Jott is one of the best productivity, keep-track-of-it tools I’ve found in a long time!
Here’s whatcha do:
Go to jott.com, sign up for a free account.
Put the toll-free number in your Crackberry or iPhone, and assign a speed-letter to it (I used “J” - pretty original thinking there.)
Next time you have a bright idea that you don’t want to forget while you’re driving?
Press J.
Leave a message.
It translates your voice into text, and emails it to you.
Can’t read it’s “writing?” It attaches the sound file to your email, too, so you can listen to yourself.
What else can you do with Jott?
My two favorites:
1) Jott other people who have Jott.
2) Jott Remember The Milk
Jott other people who have Jott
Get your friends to sign up for Jott. Better yet, get people to whom you delegate tasks to sign up for Jott.
Then, add yourselves to each others’ accounts.
Next time you have a to-do for them, or some brilliant observation you must share with them immediately, but you don’t have time to actually talk to them, call Jott instead.
When it says “Who do you want to Jott”, say their name.
Leave the message.
Now, they’ve been enlightened.
Jott Remember The Milk
Remember The Milk is an online to-do list. It’s extremely easy to figure out and use. My two favorite things about Remember The Milk?
1) I can send an email to it, and it shows up on my to-do list.
2) I can Jott to Remember The Milk.
So, I’m driving, I think of something I need to do. I can Jott, but then it goes to my email, and I have to put it on my to-do list.Jott
Instead, now that I have them hooked up to each other, I say “Remember The Milk” (in monotone!) to Jott, and it puts the to-do on my Remember The Milk to-do list.
How cool is this?
Your Turn: What technologies are you using like this to save time or be more productive or keep track of it all? Bonus points for linking more than one together successfully!
How can you store different types of information in one central system that’s easy to manage? And it needs to be searchable. What about a Wiki?
Here’s Wikipedia’s definition of a Wiki:
A wiki is a type of computer software that allows users to easily create, edit and link web pages. Wikis are often used to create collaborative websites, power community websites, and are increasingly being installed by businesses to provide affordable and effective Intranets or for use in Knowledge Management. Ward Cunningham, developer of the first wiki, WikiWikiWeb, originally described it as “the simplest online database that could possibly work”. One of the best-known wikis is Wikipedia.
In the Wikipedia, a large number of these words are linked to other wiki entries. Cross Reference Heaven!
Why A Wiki at Wildwood?
We have several internal systems at Wildwood to do tasks and store information. For example, we have project management software, an accounting system, and a defined subdirectory structure. These are all effective in their own right, but these systems don’t easily allow collaboration or overall business information storage and retrieval. We wanted a central knowledgebase repository and collaboration area for tracking and sharing information. A few examples of what could be stored there are:
knowledge gained on a project
great websites we all like
resources for various purposes
newsletter ideas
events
networking groups
We’ve tried several solutions, but they all fell short and internal adoption failed. Then, recently, we installed a Wiki. It’s still an infant, but it’s already turning into a great repository for information.
Our website has more about wiki implementation, including:
simple strategies for getting user buy-in, (critical),
wiki structure and management,
what software we used (free),
plug-ins (easy to add),
security considerations, and
some editing tips (anyone can do this!)
PERSONAL POSTSCRIPT
The FOUR-LETTER WORD THAT CHANGED MY PERSONAL LIFE
A wiki is changing my personal life, too. While I was in the process of implementing our company wiki, I realized I had little arsenals of information in my personal life, too. They weren’t very organized, they weren’t searchable, and they weren’t centrally located and easily accessible. So I started a personal wiki. It’s password protected, just like our business wiki.
A few examples of information I’m in various stages of keeping in my wiki include:
Websites I like
Music I’ve heard and would like to purchase
A list of CDs I own
Links to websites I visit on a regular basis
Places I’d like to visit/have visited
Information about where I’ve stored other important information
Quotes that inspire me
Things that rejuvenate me. If I’m feeling down, I can look at this list and pick a fun activity without much thought.
A list of goals and comments about the goals.
Ideas for my Gadget Girl articles (see Austin Woman Magazine’s December, 2007 issue for my first Gadget Girl article.)
Invention and business ideas. If I thought them through, this information is there.
Do you have a wiki? I’m interested in hearing how you or your business are using it. If you had a personal wiki, what would you put in it? I’d love to hear that, too. Click here to contact me.
I spoke recently at the Women’s MBA lunch, a group organized by Lisa Cummings, owner of 
Jott is one of the best productivity, keep-track-of-it tools I’ve found in a long time!
