Pile of Index Cards

What I love with this analog indexcard system is a “sound”. A sound when I drop written card into the Dock.

It makes me feel some kind of accomplishment. It says “Well done! Let’s go to next card” to me, and triggers next card.

I miss this sound when I use computer. Rather, a computer makes sound when I do something wrong (beep). Perhaps this makes big difference to my productivity. In fact, I usually use computer without sound.

The sound of indexcard attracts me to analog world so strongly.

# The only computer beep I love is startup sound of Macintosh

Title of a card should be short and exact. I usually write a card in following order,

Contents -> Icon -> Title -> Tag -> Time stamp

After writing contents, I have some time to think what icon and title of the card should be. It avoid discrepancy between title and contents (it sometimes happen!).

I name digital files using absolute name as I do for indexcards. In the picture, I show how to make time stamp with UNIX command to make time stamp name like ” , as example. Kevinmarsh kindly introduced me there is an application called “TextExpander” which enable text expand “ymd” to the time stamp. Using the absolute name of digital file, I can link the file to an indexcard, like

ref. : PDF 2006.11.02 Thu 18:02

Same as link between indexcard, year, month, date and week is omitted if it is made in same day : then it become “ref. : PDF 18:02″. To find a digital file on computer, which referenced in a indexcard, search with “20061102Thu1802″.

I usually link only from digital file to card, and not from card to digital file. It is enough for me because the card system is center of information in my system.

This system is better and comfort for me, than digital. But I have never think system is perfect. Followings are problems I understand at current state, with 4,000 of indexcard.

• How to reduce cards : I don’t know what happen if I use this system for 2 years or more without reducing cards. Discard, or I should keep everything. How to write, how not to write.
• Time stamp for GTD card : I have been thinking ver. 2 still have problem. Which time stamp should be used, a time it was written or a time it is accomplished.
• How to search a card quickly : As number of card increase, it become more and more difficult to search a card I want. Or I should quit search.

ref. : Writing manual from indexcards

As this blog do, implementing the “analog” PoI system to “digital” blog system is easily done. Feature of the PoI system is,

• Icon and Tag (Record, Discovery, Reference + GTD)
• Title and contents
• Date and Time stamp
• Chronological order
• Link between cards
• Revision Rule (Capability of modification)
• Capability of Reorganization
• Star system

You see first five features are already implemented in the blog system. To implement the PoI system to blog,

1. Reduce Tag to only 3-4 kinds (Record, Discovery, Reference + GTD)
2. Make title exact and short
3. Write the contents piece by piece
4. Allow revision/modification of the contents (revised time should be recorded)
5. Link between card and card, to external world, by using hyperlink
6. the blog should/must be private

You can start the PoI System from a blog just in front of you. It is good if you hesitate to use this system, because of difficulty with getting indexcard and dock physically. Now all you need is some simple attitude above.

# Wish-list and problems-to-be-solved should be discussed. Any idea? :)