Sep 26 2007
scheduling: electronic?
In response to my hand-made schedule, a comment was raised:
um… google calendar?
In a nutshell, technology generally sucks. To use Google Calendar, I need to have a laptop. Or a desktop. Or some computer nearby. My laptop weighs 4-5 pounds, has a short (3-4 hour) battery life, requires network access, is expensive if I drop it, a pain when it is stolen, and fares poorly if I wipe out on my bike while riding to work.
Now, lets compare that with a paper scheduler. First, it always has enough power—because it requires none. Second, it can survive drops from great heights or being crushed in my backpack if I leave my bicycle in a less-than-graceful manner; at worst, I might have to replace the binder. Third, it is easy to carry and can be used in meetings without disrupting anything. Fourth, it is unlikely to be stolen if I leave it somewhere, as it has no cash value. Fifth, it is easy to back up if I am so inclined (photocopy), and requires no special supporting technology to make things work. Indeed, as a near-fifth, sharing it is easy enough, as I can make copies for others (as I did with my senior project team). Sixth, scheduling is easy: I hand it to a student, and with tools they all possess or that I can freely lend them (a pen or pencil), they can write their name into appropriate slots for meeting arrangement—no pesky GMail accounts required!
The list goes on and on. I’ve been through PDAs, various desktop calendaring apps, web-based solutions… I’ve even built and installed calendar aggregation tools on this server. In the end, the fact is, my paper organizer goes back-and-forth to work, as well as crosses oceans, far more gracefully (and with less hassle) than my laptop ever will.
There you go. You’ve got your usability constraints. Suggest a better digital alternative, and I’m good to go. Your solution must, however, address all of my needs.
Besides, as one of my independent study students said, “PostIts and highlighters are fun!”