In 1980 IBM started a project in Boca Raton, Florida, to develop a personal computer (a PC) that could be used by regular people in their homes. The story is complex, but you can read some interesting background about it here.
David Bradley was one of the engineers on the project, and–in spite of a tremendously accomplished career–is best known in some circles as the developer of the three fingered salute: Control, Alternate, Delete (or Control, Alt, Delete as we usually say it.) That combination of keys is a way to end a program or process that has frozen up on you or to look at what is going on in the contraption right now. I’ll bet you have been grateful for it a zillion times!
Now and then you may want to consider what you need to Ctrl-Alt-Del in your life. What has become frozen and no matter how long you sit and wait, you know it isn’t going anywhere? What is using up energy and overloading your mind unnecessarily? How many processes do you have going? Could some of them be halted to allow you to better focus on others? What about just taking a break for a few minutes?
The first thing you see when you hit Ctrl-Alt-Del on most computers (Vista has a different approach to it, but gets there eventually) is a list of applications–what you have open and active right now. You can also see processes–what is going on behind the scenes. The same concept applies to evaluating your life. Right now, list the things that are on your mind almost all the time, with few interruptions. Those are in addition to the immediate issues with which you are dealing at work or home. You probably have ten to twenty things that rarely leave your mind and don’t change no matter how much you think about them! Some of them are nice feeling, but most are probably either negative or at least worrisome. No wonder you stay mentally exhausted!
There are several ways to Ctrl-Alt-Del our lives:
1. Exercise physically. One great advantage of walking, running, lifting weights, or doing calisthenics, Pilates or Yoga, is that you almost inevitably rest your mind. Sure, you might think of work, family or what’s for dinner, but it’s different feeling. Have you noticed that you sometimes find solutions or think of something creative or new while you’re working out? You’ve shut down some other processes and unfrozen your brain a bit!
2. Sleep. No matter how messed up things seem as you get ready for bed or when you close your eyes for a nap, your sad or negative emotions will be reduced at least somewhat when you awaken. You may think of the problem or concern almost immediately, but your mind will be better able to deal with it. “Sleep on it” is good advice, not only to be creative but also to reboot mentally and emotionally.
3. Reduce mental processes. You cannot control every aspect of your active life–but you often can do something to make it more manageable. Sometimes getting rid of mental (and actual) clutter can help. Sometimes you may need to completely stop something that is taking away from the quality of your life. You may find you need to stop volunteering so quickly or packing your life full of activity that isn’t necessary or fulfilling. You may need to reduce time with someone who is dragging you down.
You may have found other positive things: A hobby, a pasttime that is fun, sports, music, art or something else that is a Crtl-Alt-Del process for you. We all need something to stop the negative processes and defragment our minds! But make sure the things you do are positive and worthwhile and that they don’t create more problems. Which, using the computer analogy would mean: When you need to get unfrozen, don’t try to do it by downloading more free screensavers just because they look pretty.
Today and for the next few days, hit Ctrl-Alt-Del occasionally and list the common themes of your recurring, unpleasant thoughts. Are there some you could eliminate by simply tackling a task you’ve been procrastinating about? Could you replace some repeatedly negative thoughts with some positive affirmations? Could you stop feeling guilty or badly or sadly, by purposely finding better things that require your concentration? Do your mind and your life a favor and end those negative programs so you can free your mind for something better. You deserve the break!
January 17th, 2010
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A friend told me about a meeting she attended last week in which a coworker, Greg, was looking at his wireless smart phone and texting with both hands–as he always did in meetings. (In the past, people had commented about this rude habit of his and wondered why his boss allowed him to get by with it.) Greg would only look up occasionally. Most of the time he was texting or scrolling. Finally the manager stopped the meeting to tell Greg to put the #$#@! phone away and pay attention.
Greg was shocked and a bit angry and hurt. He showed everyone the screen, which contained notes of the meeting. He said he always took notes that way and used them for the follow-up memo which many had thanked him for producing. He hadn’t intended to be rude; he intended to be helpful.
That reminded me of two similar situations: In one situation a normally courteous person caught the negative attention of others in a training group by repeatedly looking at his smart phone, as though looking at emails or a text message. Toward the close of the session it became apparent he had been keeping track of the time for a timed activity in which they were involved.
The other situation was reported to me by a supervisor who was talking to an employee about a work problem. In the middle of the conversation, the employee took out his smart phone and studied the screen, then scrolled and did some texting. He seemed distracted when he responded to a question about some statistics. The supervisor finally said, “I would appreciate it if you would show me the courtesy of listening and not reading a message while we’re trying to figure this out.” The employee was surprised at the remarks and showed the screen–he had a spreadsheet with data about the problem and was reading along as the supervisor discussed the situation.
After these incidents I did a small survey to find out how people felt about the use of mobile devices in meetings and training. I’m going to continue to gather those opinions and will report them some other time. This post will be focused on the issue of reducing, at least a bit, the appearance of rudeness when you use a mobile device or smart phone.
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Do you actually need to take notes? If notes are needed, could a few hand written notes suffice? Are you the one who is designated for note taking or could you be more useful as an active contributor? For many people “taking notes” is a way to avoid participating.
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Explain your intentions. Tell others you will taking notes on the mobile device you use, but emphasize that you will be listening closely. Especially talk about it ahead of time to the group leader or to the trainer. They may tell you they would prefer you not do it.
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Make eye contact and respond to remarks. If you only look down at the screen you can’t communicate effectively, especially not in groups. Put the device down now and then to listen attentively and respond.
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Explain your specific purposes for using the mobile device. “Let me see if the emails I received about the project had the information we need. Give me a second to scroll through them.” When you are done, put the phone or device away.
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Pay attention to how you look to others. Most adults stare intently at a mobile device because of the size of the screen. Their facial expression is one of concentration on the device, not on the meeting. They use both hands to text and scroll. If they need glasses, they will tend to hold the smart phone out at arm’s length to see it. All of those things add to the distraction.
Many people are so frustrated about the use of mobile devices in meetings and training that no explanation will make it seem right. However, a brief explanation combined with care to ensure you listen and respond appropriately, may help in many situations. At least it will show that you are concerned about others in the group and that your intentions are positive.
October 12th, 2009
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An At By Any Other Name Still Gets Email Delivered
Checking the library and the Internet will provide you with several histories of the @ symbol. Each of the sources state their version with complete confidence and authority. (That’s how false history and urban legends get started. )
I am putting my trust in this well documented account: In 2000, Giorgio Stabile, a professor at La Sapienza University in Rome, found correspondence written in 1536 by a Florence merchant, Francesco Lapi, describing three treasure-filled ships that had recently arrived from Latin America. Lapi wrote with mercantile script which had been developed prior to that time and which often involved wrapping a letter with a flourish to indicate a longer word. He used a wrapped a to denote an amphora, which was a measurement based on the size of terracotta containers and which was also used as an equivalency measurement. The wrapped a might have been used before then, but no earlier examples have been found.
Over time the wrapped a was used in commercial transactions to mean at the rate of, at each or for each. (12 @ $2.00). The first Underwood typewriter in 1885 contained the commercial symbol @, which most referred to simply as at, at each or commercial at. The symbol is also sometimes used in casual handwriting as a way to shorten the two-letter word at to one letter.
In 1971, Ray Tomlinson, a computer engineer was working with a team to develop a network between computers. Although developing a mail system was not the specific purpose of the project, it was part of the work. He needed to find a way to separate an electronic mail recipient from the host computer name. (The two large computers were actually side by side in his research area). The word at made sense and the at symbol on the keyboard seemed obvious. It’s been used that way billions of times since then.
So, that is how the @ symbol evolved. Quite an evolution! For the story of what the symbol is now called in other languages, check out an article about the various names for Señor Lapi’s quick version of amphora, which started it all.
October 8th, 2009
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The 2009 Conference Committee for RMWLE
I had the privilege of being one of the presenters at the annual conference for the Rocky Mountain Women in Law Enforcement in Grand Junction, Colorado this week. What a great (grand!) experience!
The photo is of the conference planning committee–and they deserve tremendous thanks for all they did. Felicia Low, president of the association and every association officer and volunteer also deserve applause. I know those women and men would agree that the quality of the conference would not have been possible without vendors, corporate supporters and the chiefs, sheriffs and directors who allowed the participants to attend.
All of the work for the conference centered around the 170 or so professional women and men from the Rocky Mountain states (Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona and even from Florida) who attended and participated enthusiastically in the training. They were inspirational, fun and joyfully dedicated to their professions. You would have liked to be there!
Grand Junction was the perfect place for the conference this year. It is a welcoming city that is close to many attractions and beautiful on its own. I love to walk in the downtown mall area, stop for coffee, shop a bit and just enjoy the great weather (it’s nearly always much more mild than elsewhere in the state.) Grand Junction City Manager Laurie Kadrich was an uplifting and motivating speaker on Tuesday night. She was the perfect person for the role, because she started her career in public service as a police officer in Gillette, Wyoming, in the late 70s.
I’ll write more about the conference over time, but had to report its success immediately. One of the recurring themes of every speaker and trainer had to do with building relationships with officers and employees at all levels of the organization as well as building relationships with individuals and groups in the community. This conference was a great model for the concept!
September 25th, 2009
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The B-17, nicknamed The Flying Fortress, has become a symbol for American air power in World War II. It was a high flying (35,000 feet) bomber that cruised at 170 mph but could reach speeds of 300 mph. It also could be defended with thirteen .50 caliber machine guns in multiple ports for use by six gunner crewmen. It was heavy and durable and brought most of its crews home safely in spite of enemy fire, damaged parts and belly landings. It attained a mythical reputation and was the plane of choice for many WWII movies. (Have you seen 12 O’Clock High?)
There were far fewer B-17s than needed at the start of WWII, in large part because of the tragic death of Major “Pete” Ployer Hill in 1935, when the B-17 was Model 299–an experimental aircraft being tested at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio.
Flying Without A Checklist
Major Hill had a career of distinction and service and was highly respected for his character and personal style. In 1932 he was assigned as the Chief of the Flying Branch of the Material Division at Wright Field. He was the chief test pilot and also provided oversight for hundreds of flight tests on potential aircraft purchases. On October 30, 1935, Boeing Model 299 was being demonstrated to key Congressional delegates and others. Major Hill (his first time flying the 299) sat in the left seat with Lieutenant Donald Putt (the primary Army pilot for the previous evaluation flights) as the co-pilot. With them was Leslie Tower (the Boeing Chief Test Pilot), C.W. Benton (a Boeing mechanic), and Henry Igo (a representative of the engine manufacturer).
The plane took off just fine and began to climb but suddenly stalled and crashed. Hill died of injuries sustained in the crash and the others had serious burns. Tower died after the crash although he was not reported to have had serious injuries at the time. An investigation showed pilot error: The various operations for take-off were complex and Major Hill apparently forgot or did not realize that Model 299 had a “gust lock” on the elevator (the part of the plane that controls the nose up or nose down orientation of the plane). He did everything correctly before take-off except for releasing the lock.
The Congressional delegation advised against purchasing the aircraft because it was “too complex for one man to fly”. However, a few were purchased for the B-17 position in the Air Force fleet. The Air Force was concerned that another accident would cause the aircraft to be taken out of service permanently, so a group of Air Force pilots and Boeing mechanics and pilots were given the task of allaying fears about it. Their solution was to develop a list of the equipment that had to be in place and the actions that had to be done before take off, as well as lists for in-flight, prior to landing and after landing.
The list would be in the cockpit and the co-pilot would read each step then wait for the pilot to check the status and verbally indicate it by saying “Check”. If the co-pilot couldn’t make a check mark everything stopped until the situation was corrected. The flight checklist worked perfectly and made flight activities more organized. Soon, other pilots heard about the idea and developed checklists for their own planes. Within a short time it was required for all pilots in all aircraft.
Eventually Boeing was given contracts for a significant number of B-17s, but this delay meant the United States was two years into WWII before the Air Force had a sufficient number of the bombers. Production on the B-17 set records for large aircraft and required 24 hour shifts of mechanics and laborers–including many women who became part of the “Rosie the Riveter” story in WWII. Only 200 B-17s were in use at the beginning of the war and over 12,000 of the aircraft were built by the time production ended in 1945.
The lessons for us in the crash of Model 299–The Flying Fortress
1.) The B-17 wasn’t too complex for one person to fly. However, it was too complex for one person to remember everything that needed to be done. Seven items, give or take an item or two, is about the maximum we can remember easily. If the items are complex or unfamiliar, three is about the maximum. (Think about the implications for trying to teach or learn a task with several steps. )
2.) A mental checklist can be helpful–but it requires memorizing the checklist, which consists of the steps! When a task or series of tasks is crucial, use a written list and check each item as it is accomplished. (Think of the implications for safety, training and for avoiding calling a repairman who arrives and does the one thing you forgot again, then charges you $85.)
3.) Working with someone can help you stay honest about the list. If you are checking it yourself you might be inclined to move down it without ensuring each item is in place or each step has been accomplished.
4.) If you are developing a checklist, work with the people doing the task to produce it. Do not leave it entirely up the them, since often those who do a task jump the steps mentally, but let them contribute to it.
5.) The checklist was developed because someone higher-up wasn’t satisfied. I wonder if the pilots grumbled about Puzzle Palace interference? Do you think they would have developed a checklist if they hadn’t been trying to overcome opposition?
6.) Why was Major Hill flying that day? This one isn’t related to checklists, but needs to be mentioned: Major Hill was a fine pilot and so was Lieutenant Putt, who went on to become a Lieutenant General and the Director of Research and Development for the Air Force–and he had flown the plane several times. So, why was Major Hill flying that day?
It could be that Major Hill was required to fly for such a crucial demonstration. Or, it could be he wanted to fly to make sure nothing went wrong–and he trusted his own skills for that. It could be he simply wanted to be in on a big event of that nature. We will never know that part of the story. But, this can be said without a doubt: If he had gone through orientation training with either Lieutenant Putt or Mr. Tower, the Boeing pilot, he would have known about the gust lock. If he had known about it perhaps he would have disengaged it, flown a perfect flight, sold the Congressmen on fully equipping the Air Force fleet and the early days of WWII might have been different–and he and Mr. Tower might have lived long lives, enjoying their memories.
Consider the implications for that when you feel the need to show that you know the job as well or better as those who are doing it every day. You may have once been an expert but things change. Make the assumption that you will always benefit from refresher training–and the same applies to anyone who has not done a task for awhile.
7.) Think about the checklists that could benefit you and your work group:
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When a task or process is too important to leave anything out even once: Make a checklist and train, test and evaluate with the requirement that it be used every time.
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Even if you don’t institute a checklist for tasks: Consider frequent refresher training, including having the people who will be doing the task explain what they do and why they do it.
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Make a list of the steps involved in the action on the computer or other equipment that you always seem to forget. Use the checklist so you don’t have to call someone to help you so often.
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Have checklist for your fitness routine. Checking each exercise or activity off is motivating and prevents lapses.
- Keep a list by the door at home and work: It will keep you from turning around and going back–or doing without.
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Post lists next to equipment or in areas where a task is performed: Employees can easily follow all the steps in the right order.
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Have trainees develop checklists of the multi-step tasks with which they are having problems.
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Tape, pin or place checklists: Put them inside your briefcase, suitcase or the trunk of your car.
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Use checklists in testing: Leave out a few steps in a list and have trainees provide them.
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What else?
The bottom line about the Flying Fortress and your checklists: Would you want the person piloting a plane in which you were flying to not use a checklist? What if the pilot resented being micromanaged in that way? What if the pilot said he or she knew the processes for readying the airplane for take-off and didn’t need a checklist? What if the co-pilot said it was a big hassle and took up too much time? You know the answers!
September 14th, 2009
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A few months ago I mentioned a great way to use your name card in training–write a thank you note to the instructor. I had been surprised and delighted with such a card after a class for police sergeants and supervisors and wrote about it then.
A few weeks ago I received another of those, then another a week later–one from Jennifer Kirkland, a Communications (Dispatch) Supervisor for the Vail Police Department and one from Jacob Campbell of the Cherry Hills Police Department. Jacob is a tremendously impressive sergeant with a great career ahead of him and I certainly appreciated the thank you note on his name card. However, I will focus on Jennifer’s in this article for one big reason: I had to get hers out of the trash!
Several of us were cleaning up after a class on supervisory interviewing and I was getting ready to throw some items away when I saw a name tag with writing on it covered up by some other trash. I took it out and smiled to see the note.
It may not be original, but thanks, Tina! It was great!
I carefully wiped the coffee grounds from it–as though it was the Holy Grail being restored–and put it into my briefcase with reverence. I scanned it into my computer when I got home and saved the card in my files. I was thrilled to have it! (I love the emails I receive too, so don’t think I’m picky about how I get a thank you note!)
Creative thank you and greeting ideas for training or work: The next time you attend training, use your name tag to write a thank you to the instructor or a fellow participant. Or, take it back to your office and give it to the person who helped make the training possible for you. Be creative in any other meeting or gathering and find something on which to leave a thank you note for the coordinator or someone else responsible. Or, simply look for ways to leave your mark and have an Instant Impact on someone’s day.
- If it’s a food event, write a Thank You on a napkin and leave it on the co-worker’s desk.
- Write “thank you” or greeting on a snack package and give it to an employee.
- Write a thank you note on a styrofoam cup and hand it to someone you appreciate.
- Buy a coworker a can of pop and tape a fun note to it.
- Put a note in a desk drawer, on a purse or briefcase or somewhere else unexpected.
- Think of something even more creative—but appropriate–and say thank you or just Hi! to someone you know at work.
The idea is to surprise people with an unexpected thank you note or greeting. You don’t have to do it creatively–but it certainly has an impact when you do!
In Jennifer’s case, she must have decided not to leave the note after all–or, maybe her name card was put in the trash inadvertently. Whatever the situation, I’m glad I found Jennifer Kirkland’s name card because I was very happy to have it–coffee grounds and all.
July 9th, 2009
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The Value of Categories
In the right side column is supposed to be a list of topic categories, similar to an index, to allow readers to find all the articles on that topic. My list includes:
Personal and Professional Development
Supervision and Management
Safety and Security Planning
Life and Work
Assessment Centers and Interviews
Service to Customers, Clients and Coworkers
Training and Technology
Food, Fitness and Fun
I never realized the importance of that list until it disappeared. (It’s a code problem and will be fixed soon–it may be fixed by the time you read this.) Not having it reminded me that, like you, I have several areas of interest, knowledge and skills and each of those may appeal to different people for different reasons–or some people may find none of them appealing.
Yesterday a church leader told me he had looked for church security material on this site, but only found the article on this first page and didn’t realize there was anything more. (The Category column would have directed him to several articles.) A couple of days ago I recieved an email from a police sergeant who wanted to know how to find something on Assessment Centers in all the articles on the site. Categories would have certainly benefited that reader. The thing that has concerned me most is that without a category list a reader would not know the range of information he or she could find here. They might look at the six most recent articles shown on the home page and not realize there is information on other topics available.
The categories of your personal and professional life. How many categories do you have in the list for your life? If someone really gets to know you, how many interests would that person find? At work, in how many categories do you have expertise? Do you think it’s preferable to have a narrow focus, but with tremendous expertise, or a wide range of interests with a smattering of knowledge about each, or a mix?
Is it time to change your Category list? Make a list of the categories of thoughts, activities and interests that comprise your life. Are there some of them you should remove? Are there some you can combine with others? Are there some you’d like to add? Have you ever changed your life so much that many of the categories changed too?
I’m thinking about those things as I wait for the Category list on this site to return. The next list may look different than the last one.
June 24th, 2009
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Bluetooth technology, headsets and speaker phones have made it possible to talk on the phone while reading, word processing, eating, walking, driving or just about anything else. But, it very often sounds incredibly rude.
Reading email and commenting on it while talking to someone else.
“Yes, I agree that we should probably reschedule that for next….WHAT THE HECK? Why are they sending me THIS? ……………………I’m sorry, I was looking at an email I got from Dave and his crew. They’re always copying me on things I don’t need. It’s nuts!………..Yeah, I think we should reschedule that.”
Eating while talking on the phone.
”We were trying to (chomp, chomp, chomp) get that done in time for the (indistinguishable), but I (chomp, slurp, slurp, chomp) don’t think we’ll have it. Is that a problem? (chomp, sip, crunch.)”
Browsing the Internet and not listening to the caller.
Traci: I’ve interviewed both of the employees but it seems they each have a different story. It’s so frustrating!
Joe: (silence)
Traci: Are you there?
Joe: Oh! Yes, yes I’m here. Hey, awhile ago you mentioned the problem you were having with opening that file….I just found a website about it. It says you should probably close other programs before trying to download the file.
Working on email.
Roger: I just wanted to give you a heads up about the plans.
Maria: I’ll…….be……..sure…….to…………………………………..get…… (click) those done.
Roger: Am I catching you at a bad time?
Maria: No, no that’s fine. I was just sending an email to Bill and had to attach a file. Now, run that by me again.
Doing something that requires you to talk to someone else while on the phone.
“Hi Craig! How are you? I wanted to ask you if we could use the conference room to……just a minute…..A LARGE SLAMBURGER, DIET COLA AND SUPER SIZE THE FRIES PLEASE!……Sorry, I’m getting something to eat. Anyway, I was….just minute……YES, DIET COLA. THANKS! ….anyway, I was wondering if we could use the….ohhhh, just one more minute, I’m sorry, I’m almost done with this……I DON’T NEED THE PENNIES BACK. THANK YOU!…OK, I’m done now (slurp) so, anyway, can we use the conference room?”
A communication and courtesy challenge: Challenge yourself–if it’s a challenge—to keep your hands off the keyboard, stop browsing the Internet, stop reading and sending email, stop eating, stop sounding preoccupied and only halfway paying attention, stop commenting on things apart from the phone call. Focus on the conversation, both talking and listening. It’s Communication 101. It’s also Courtesy 101.
June 13th, 2009
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PowerPoint and similar presentation programs can be excellent ways to illustrate key points in training or even in short presentations, so this is not a plea to stop using them. If each slide is prepared with care and intention, PowerPoint or similar presentation programs can add tremendously to the learning experience–it is mis-use and high quantity but poor quality that gives them bad reputations.
Instead, I want to remind you to now and then use the B Key on the keyboard or the similarly magic button on the remote presenter. Those will give you a blank screen.
On the keyboard you can get a blank screen without illumination by hitting “B” . (You can get a white screen that is illuminated–and glaring–by hitting “W”. However, this is not as effective as the blank screen.) On your remote presenter there is usually one button that takes the screen to blank–find it before you begin your presentation. To return to the slide, click the same button or hit “B” again.
You can also make a blank screen by simply inserting a new slide but not putting anything in it. However, since it will probably have the same color scheme or template as the other slides, the class will assume you will be showing text or an image at some point and they’ll wait for it mentally. In addition, since it is a regular slide, the projector light will continue to glare and it won’t work well to stand in front of the screen or walk between the projector and the screen. Use the “B” key or the button on your remote presenter for much better results.
When to use a blank screen.
- When you know you will be speaking about the material on a slide for several minutes and the visual reference isn’t needed, go to a blank screen. (If you will be moving into a new topic, make a blank slide and click to it before going to the blank screen. That way when you click again you’ll open to the clear slide and can advance to the next one without having old material still showing. It’s not difficult!)
- If you don’t have slides to illustrate a topic or segment go to a blank screen. Challenge yourself to find ways other than slides to illustrate or emphasize points.
- Go to a blank screen as you discuss a new topic. Then, at the last of that segment use a slide. It’s a surprisingly effective way to regain attention as you summarize information.
- When you have something that is so important you want the full attention of the group, go to the blank screen and move center stage as you interact more personally.
- Go to a blank screen right before you announce break time, to indicate that a topic is closed momentarily and everyone can relax mentally and physically.
- If someone asks a question, go to a blank screen as a way to say, “I’m listening to you and I want everyone else to listen as well.”
- When you want to show that you are comfortable as a speaker and presenter and don’t need slides to keep things going, go to a blank screen as you ask questions, respond to comments, tell an anecdote and in other ways fulfill your role as a trainer or speaker.
When you have a blank screen use it as an opportunity to stand in front of the screen for a change. Put the remote presenter down and see how nice it is to have your hands free. You’ll discover that audiences are more impressed with the blank screen now and then than they are with one slide after another. The fact that I sometimes go to a blank screen is often mentioned positively in my critiques. (I refuse to think of that as a comment on the alternative!)
Blank screen moments. The next step is to purposely plan blank screen moments in your training. Make a note in your lesson plan or workbook, to remind you to go to a blank screen when you want to be sure to have no distractions as you ask a question, share an experience or segue from one training topic to another. Don’t just look for those moments, create them. Blank isn’t bad–in fact it can be very good!
June 6th, 2009
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For my work, the most crucial piece of office equipment, next to a computer, is a copying machine. Even though I am trying to conserve paper and energy–which is why I send most “handouts” as e-files after training–I want to use workbooks. I am very grateful for modern copiers that staple, punch holes and collate–and certainly remember when we did not have them.
The rights to Thomas Edison’s invention of an “Autographic Printer” in 1876, were bought by A.B. Dick company and the new item was called a mimeograph–a generic name that is now used to describe many brands. Mimeographs are still very popular, especially in countries where electricity is not readily available. Many schools and churches in the United States use them for small copying jobs.
Have you ever cranked-out copies on a mimeograph machine? If so, have you ever copied on the wrong side of the paper because you didn’t put it on the roller correctly? Have you ever had the circles in the letters p, q, o and b, filled in with blobs of ink? Ahh, the memories!
In spite of the drawbacks, the mimeograph machine has at least a few advantages over larger copiers. Most mimeograph copiers do not require electricity. They do not have to have the toner cartridge replaced. Paper will not jam behind door 3a 1.b, requiring a technician to come out and get your mangled original from the jaws of the Copy Monster. And, they are fast–although I doubt the claim in the ad that you could make 1,000 copies in an hour.
I’m glad Mr. Edison found time in his incredible life to invent the Mimeograph machine! I’m especially glad that others used Edison’s ideas to develop copying machines that are even more useful than those early inventions. I’m anxious to see what the future brings. And, I intend to still be producing workbooks!
November 2nd, 2008
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