#33 / 2024: technology and art
Hello my friend! 👋
So, 2024 has already kicked into its second week, and most people's lives are slowly getting back on track. I've still got a week of holiday left before I officially return to work, but starting from tomorrow, Monday, I need to slowly get back into the groove and start prepping for my projects. On Twitter, many folks, myself included, have been reflecting on the achievements and goals we accomplished in 2023, or just sharing how the year went. But there seems to be fewer people looking ahead to 2024 – maybe it's because there's so much uncertainty these days, we can't predict what big events might unfold in the coming year.
I still think it's possible to make some basic plans. In my own style, I've set a few themes for 2024 and mapped out some directions for myself. There will be milestone-like goals along these paths, which I'll gradually work towards through specific actions. But it's also about staying flexible, especially with the ongoing changes in the economy, politics, and global order. And with AI still looming over our jobs, plans can indeed change rapidly. However, I believe it's possible to turn these plans inward, to listen more to our inner selves and focus on more fundamental things.
For 2024, I plan to seriously study the recent history of technology and art history. Last year, through a project, I discovered that many events in the recent history of technology have huge implications for the current AI era we're living through. Understanding them can help us better grasp the future.
As for art history, I feel the same way: understanding the evolution of art can fundamentally influence and inspire my work in design.
Using AI in 2023 made me realize how important and valuable the breadth of a person's knowledge has become. So this year, I plan to explore and expand my knowledge across these two historical axes – technology and art – to better utilize AI in achieving the goals I've set for this year.
What about you? What are your plans and goals for 2024? Feel free to reply or leave a comment to share with me.
Here’re a few things I’d like to share with you today 🙂
Book recommendation: Tetris
Don’t consume social media or other information between two cognitive tasks
Points are not the purpose of learning
Design is a useful skill, even if you are not a designer
Screen Studio vs FocuSee: Choosing the Right Screen Recording App
Have a great one and see you soon!
Book recommendation: Tetris
I just finished reading the graphic novel "Tetris". The story of this book has basically been told in the book "Game Over", as well as in the AppleTV movie "Tetris". However, viewing it in the form of a comic brings a unique charm.
The birth story of "Tetris" is definitely more exciting than conventional movie plots. The ups and downs of commercial copyrights, the intricate negotiations, the fight for ultimate power among different interest groups, such as Atari, Nintendo, and the former Soviet Union's intellectual property agency, coupled with the specific personalities and choices of the main characters, is absolutely thrilling.
In addition to narrating the intense negotiations for game rights, the book also touches upon the early stages of the game's creation. It describes how Pajitnov, the inventor of Tetris, came up with arguably the most elegant and widely influential electronic game in history, and the process of realizing it. What amazed me the most was his imaginative use of something resembling ASCII codes when envisioning specific block shapes. Representing this in comic form is also quite striking.
Games can change lives, alter destinies, and serve as means for people to explore the world. In this sense, this game is great, just like the people who invented and popularized it.
Don’t consume social media or other information between two cognitive tasks
I listened to a podcast from Huberman Lab about switching tasks, and it verified one of my theories regarding not consuming social media or other information between two cognitive tasks. The reasoning behind this is that receiving more information can be distracting and might also slow down your cognitive process. Our brains, unlike computers, need time to start things; we require some time to warm up and slow down. This is true when consuming information or working on cognitive tasks. Normally, it takes a few minutes, ranging from two to ten, to get into the situation. Therefore, when switching tasks, we need to allocate time for this warm-up and slow-down period as we transition between tasks. The principle of handling multiple tasks is not to add another task during these transition periods.
Points are not the purpose of learning
I was talking to one of my mentees about how she's doing with her learning, and she seemed a bit down. She's been reading articles for her course, but because English isn't her first language, it's tough and she only picks up a point or two(each learning task has an amount of point. E.g. reading an article, can get her 10 points, and watch a YouTube video can get her 8 points, etc). And not points like in a game – these points are supposed to show progress, but they're misleading. Real progress isn't about racking up points; it's about getting the hang of what you're reading, like really understanding a user research article, knowing the whats, hows, and whys of user interviews.
It's easy for students, especially newbies, to mistake these points for actual learning. But it’s not about those silly points. Just a heads-up for anyone using notifications or gamification as a way to track progress.
I had a similar thing happen to me with an app called Readwise. I used it to review notes from books and articles, and I was on a roll for almost a year. I'd even brag about my streak online. But then I missed a few days, lost my streak, and just like that, I stopped reviewing the notes. That made me realize it's not about keeping up a streak for show. It's about what you actually learn and remember. Let's not lose sight of that.
Design is a useful skill, even if you are not a designer
I’ve had some great conversations with my design mentees recently. A few have finished design courses and landed jobs, while others are still exploring new career paths or searching for design roles.
I’ve noticed some feeling the job hunt is tough and are considering different directions. And that’s perfectly fine.
What I always stress is the versatility of design skills. They’re incredibly useful in many aspects of work and life.
For instance, if you’re lacking energy at work, how can you boost it? That’s a design challenge. Maybe your weekly check-ins with your manager aren’t meeting your expectations. How can you make them better? Again, a design challenge.
Even at home, say your daughter is watching too much TV and you want to motivate her to be more active. What do you do? That’s right, it’s a design challenge.
The design process involves understanding the problem, brainstorming solutions, refining them, testing, and then implementing the best one.
So, remember, design isn’t just for your job. It’s a mindset you can apply to everyday life. Keep an eye out for chances to use these principles—it can be incredibly rewarding.
Screen Studio vs FocuSee: Choosing the Right Screen Recording App
In this video, I discuss two screen recording apps, Screen Studio and FocuSee. I provide an overview of their features, pricing, and performance. While both apps are good for recording screens, there are some key differences to consider. I also highlight the user interface and design aspects of each app. If you're looking for a screen recording tool, this video will help you make an informed decision.
00:00 Introduction
00:24 Overview of Screen Studio and Focus C
00:57 Price Comparison
01:53 Screen Studio Demo
03:30 Focus C Demo
07:16 Conclusion
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