Kahren Unplugged
There are times when I simply don't want to look at my computer. I tell myself 'just 15 minutes' and three hours later, I am still glued to the screen. When I accomplish things, I feel rather justified in my election to go surfing. However, the unproductive days often outweigh the productive ones. The personal computing device has long dethroned the television as the new boob tube in multiple ways. With the launch of this digital design project, I feel conflicted. As a lady lacking techno-savvy and in possession of a technological black thumb, I am prone to computers dropping me like a bad habit. Computer crashes, drive wipes, and other mishaps have made me rather suspicious about relinquishing my love affair with paper.
From a learning and thinking standpoint, I lean heavily toward visualization. I like to map things out. I love to make lists and sketch diagrams. I live to color code. Though these tasks can all be done by pecking away at the keyboard, the tactile satisfaction of rolling up my sleeves and scribbling all over the place makes my inner child much happier. From a productivity standpoint this could be viewed as procrastinating or simply inefficiency, as all results would later be typed up and organized for posterity in the end. This hybrid system is simply what works best for me, and that is the most important factor.
eFiling vs. D-Rings
My senior project for my undergrad degree focused on the power of electronic writing and how it impacted creative writing spaces. When I wrote this half-theoretical half-creative exploratory project back in 2001, I swore that I had both an electric file and a hard copy portfolio. However, both seemed to have gone up in smoke. I pray that a dive into the boxes stored in the attic may prove otherwise, but I am not hopeful. During the six week frenzy to finish up the two final classes I needed to graduate, I was rather lazy about organization. I would just save-save-save on my Zip disks and cart my projects between the CIRCA Lab and my home computer. Yes, I was a student in the pre-USB era, and now even if I manage to find my 250MB Zip disk, I don't have a single piece of equipment that can read it.
With the constant evolution of technology, is keeping purely electronic records a safe thing to do? Would transitioning to new operating systems and programs, require constant conversion of stored items, or would the collection of a techno-museum be an unfortunate side effect? Printing not only consumes paper, but when you amass enough of it, it starts to consume space. How is one to decide what should be scanned versus what should be printed and stored (just in case...)?
I wrote my project on precisely that, and I am no where closer to an answer and it has been nearly ten years. Good grief! After the mysterious disappearance of my beloved senior project (along with my other academic papers), I am very hesitant to cast paper completely aside. I e-file my taxes annually, but I keep a paper backup. Though many businesses tout their paperless processes as a way to cut costs and save the consumer money, I always end up print out my own copy of things like credit card and bank statements. I feel this is a knee-jerk reaction in the wake of the loss of my academic portfolio. Try as I may, I simply do not feel safe without that paper copy. I think the last time I dealt with a black out was in 2006, and that was only for 30 minutes. Yet for those 30 minutes, I was bored stiff, as I did not have so much as a book to read.
Dead Batteries and Killing Time
Whenever I travel, I always laugh at myself during the packing process. One of the first things I pack is a bundle of wires-- UL plug adapters, chargers, USB cables, and replacement batteries. You'd swear I was going to E3 or a top secret spy mission instead of vacation. The next items to be thrown into the mix are notebooks, pens, and ink refills. Although more and more places provide travelers with outlets or charging stations, I always wind up with dead batteries while in the throws of something important. Critical phone call? My batteries inevitably run out. The rare and fleeting winds of creativity? Every outlet is already claimed by other travelers beating me to the punch and charging every last item they possess. I think I am cursed.
I feel that my inspiration book and board serve as a security blanket. If the power goes out, I at least have something to keep me entertained. The binder is portable, and fewer people would look at me like I am crazy if I pull that out in a shop. I could bring my laptop, but for some reason it just seems really pretentious. I cannot explain why, but it just feels natural to carry a binder with my ideas. The pack rat within loves watching the growing collection of clippings and articles, and loves the contact comfort the pages provide. If I am mugged, I would mourn the loss of a binder and papers far less than I would a pricey piece of electrical equipment. Not that I plan on getting mugged (or going anywhere this could be a possibility) any time soon or anything.
Progress Report
Though the kitchenette, dining room, home office, and living room bleed seamlessly into one another, for the purposes of determining the needs of each space, I needed to divide them. Doing so, I feel like I have a better chance of being able to prioritize the needs of each space. Some will be far easier (and cheaper) than others, largely in part to the lack of furniture currently in my possession. I don't have a garage where I can hack, strip, and paint items, so I have to find items that will require the least amount of work for the time being.
The list is begging to be typed up and color coded. I can smell it. At the moment, I have a Fourth of July motif going with the red and blue ink on light blue and white graphing paper. Perhaps my task this evening after dinner.
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