brett nicholson : blog

Outletiquette: sharing power in an unwired world

2010-05-19T12:23:00.000-07:00

Share a little electric love.

I spend a lot of time in restaurants. (I think I'll open every post with that line.) Being constantly on my Mactop, I am usually in need of a power source. Macs are awesome, but batteries only last so long.

I've made a few observations about coffee-shop computer users, and how they can get the 'lectricity-fix they so desperately need.

More and more coffee-shops and bookstores are becoming laptop-friendly. Free Wi-Fi and free refills make me a happy person.

People now work (or obsess over Facebook) for long periods of time in restaurants. But the most important component in this equation, if you're spending a lot of time in your writing-place of choice, is also the one in shortest supply: electricity.

If you frequent your happy place, you know where the outlets are. You probably have a favorite table, and do what you can to get it. (That's a topic for another blog post.) But outlets only have two outlets, and as the laptops-to-outlets ratio gets more out of whack, a lot of people are just out of luck.

Fortunately, you have the power to help.

What to look for

If you are a veteran like me, you know the signs of a fellow computer-person in need.

Scoutletting

When someone enters the coffee shop with a laptop bag and begins looking around. They may even loop the entire place, looking under tables and in corners.

(Yes, I made up the word. And the one in the title. So if they become Internet buzzterms, I'm taking all the credit.)

Scanning

When someone who is using a laptop on battery power begins glancing up frequently, looking for a free outlet or open table.

Switching

When two people sharing a table take turns using their power cords, because only one outlet was available.

How you can help

If you see someone scoutletting or scanning and you have an open outlet, let them know and offer to share.

Carry some Power To Go.

I heartily recommend the Power To Go line of travel strips. They are inexpensive, which is amazing considering that they are made by Monster. (That also makes them a solid product.)

Power To Go strips come with different configurations, from 3 outlets to 6, some with a USB port for charging. And as you can see, they fold up neatly for laptop bags, and look exceedingly cool.

My favorite table has an outlet, but there are other tables within power-cord reach. It's nice to pop out the Power To Go and help up to 3 other people. They always appreciate it.

Link: Power To Go on Amazon.

Keep an eye out for scouters and scanners.

You know where the outlets are. If an outlet-friendly table is free, and you notice someone who's scanning around, walk over and let them know. Then they can use the free outlet, or your handy Power To Go.

Be commonly courteous.

Here are some ways you can give back a little of the free-WiFi love.

Free the power if you don't need it.

If you're in the restaurant and don't have (or aren't using) your computer, don't sit at tables that will make outlets unavailable to others. Be proud of doing a good thing. :)

Pick on a table your own size.

A common complaint from non-computer-using customers, is that during busy times in a coffee shop, laptoppers are taking up tables and preventing them from sitting down to eat. If your restaurant has different-sized tables, don't take up a 4-top with a laptop. Again, a little courtesy that will go a long way.

Pay to play, baby.

If you're sucking a lot of bandwidth, please patronize the place you're sucking it in. Buy coffee, brownies, soup, meals -- it's generally not required, but is the right thing to do.

Do you need to be on Facebook while others eat standing up?

If you're just messing around on MyFace or Spacebook or harvesting your crops or whatever's hot right now, and dining customers have no place to sit, compare the table turnover with the length of the line. If you've got other stuff to do, now is a good time to pack up and give some hungry people a place to eat. Just throwing it out there.

So there's my $0.02, for what it's worth. Just wanted to plug my suggestions, while they're still current, and maybe jolt some people into thinking differently. You'll be shocked at the little things you can do to make others happy.

Feel the power.

We need beverage zones.

2010-05-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

How about a refill on courtesy?

I spend a lot of time in restaurants. Especially the pastry-shop kind. This provides lots of people-watching opportunities, as well as socio-annoying study.

And within these restaurants, I spend a lot of time at the beverage station, refilling things. And a lot of time waiting behind people who could use some gentle guidelines in beverage etiquette.

There are several types of drink-filling people.

The sipper

Fills cup with ice, then with drink, then sips to taste the drink, then fills a little more. Rinse and repeat.

The family-drink-getter

Someone who is getting the drinks for an entire family. They stand right in the center, filling one cup at a time. They will pause to ask everyone what they wanted, which takes longer because the family is already way off at the table.

The slow decider

This person fills their cup with ice. Then just stands there. Pondering choices. So many options. Standing there. Oblivious. To all of us. Behind them.

The everything-fixer

The person who gets their ice, fills their cup, then gets a lid, puts it on, gets a napkin, wipes the cup, and fishes for straws, all without moving out of the way.

The child

Kids just take longer to do things, especially get their own drinks.

To this end, I am proposing that we need Beverage Zones, and that people need to utilize them. It's a simple principle, which I have illustrated below.

The Ice Line is the equator of the beverage dispenser. Using that as our starting point, here is my method:

Approach on the Ice Line.
Get ice. Quick scan to determine zone of desired beverage.
Move aside to fill beverage in appropriate zone.

This allows the person behind you to start the ice process, and by the time your cup is full, they're ready to move into their own zone. It's like paying it backward.

Simple, but effective. I use this technique myself, and I think the people behind me appreciate it. Sure, it's a little trickier to fill a drink sideways, but it's for the greater good.

Perhaps if this post catches on beyond the dozen or so people who read my blog, the world can be changed for the better.

At least, the world as it appears on the Ice Line.

Excuse me, I need to reblogulate.

2009-08-25T21:10:00.001-07:00

Well, the new site is up and running. It's shiny and I like it! I've decided to go with a new blogging engine (and maybe a new comment service too), so my previous posts haven't been moved over yet.

Now that this site is redesigned, I'm back to work on brettLabs. Please subscribe to the RSS feed so we can stay in touch!

Thank you!

Focus using Ocean Waves

2009-08-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

Simple, affordable, and effective: a very focused triple threat

Designers do a lot of getting ready to think about focusing on things. Anything that can help firewall our attention is appealing, and there are many concentration-enhancement tools. They're always fun to play with, but I keep coming back to the one that truly works for me: Ocean Waves, from Katsura Shareware.

The idea behind these tools is to block out the cluttery noise around you, so you can focus. They usually employ either nature/environmental sounds, or white/pink/brown noise. Ocean Waves uses the latter.

This is important, because instead of using a recording, Ocean Waves generates random simulations. No repetition, thus less distraction. There are also no seagulls, dolphins, whales in heat, buoy bells, boat toots, or anything else. Just the sound of the waves.

Controlling the seas

You can control the mix of large and small waves, their durations, and the interval between waves. It's just enough tweakability, but not so much that you get obsessed with it. (There's no slider for Ocean Depth, or Water Temperature, or Salinity.)

The result is surprisingly effective. I find that within a few minutes, I'm concentrating without thinking about it. To me, that is the mark of a successful tool -- when you realize that it's been working without you realizing it. I start up Ocean Waves, and by the time I get my apps launched and my windows arranged, I'm in Pacific Zen.

Environmental sound isn't effective when your mind can pinpoint where it's coming from. (For example, a sound generator with a cheap speaker sitting on your desk. *cough*Homedics*cough*) But Ocean Waves works well even through my Mactop speakers. You'll get best results with headphones, of course.

Other cool features: you can save an audio "wave mix" up to 400 minutes long, burn a wave-filled CD using iTunes, even download to your iPod. There are also Wake and Sleep timers, if you're into waking and sleeping.

I have only one nitpick with OW. The waves alternate between left and right, and when using headphones, I occasionally find myself noticing as all the sound swings from one ear to the other. I wish there was a Balance setting, to center waves in the sound field.

Ocean Waves is shareware, and costs only $10 -- very fair for something I use almost all the time. There is a generous 90-day trial, which is plenty of time to "sea" if you like it. (Rimshot. More dead ahead.)

At just ten clams, Ocean Waves is a real treasure, and I think yachtta try it. It's been a real lifesaver, if you get my drift, and has netted a place in my dock. So water you waiting for? Surf over and get the current version, then wave goodbye to distraction. I bet you'll think it's swell. I shore do.

(FYI: discarded puns include hooked, plumb, pier, sail, and others. The secret is in knowing when to quit.)

Focus is a very personal thing. But I encourage you to give Ocean Waves a try, and see if it helps you find your flow.

Ocean Waves website