Issue 10.17
Just about anyone who uses computers knows what it is to “google” things. Searching for information on our PCs is a daily thing for most of us. We just put in a word or phrase to a search engine and use the results to find the information we are looking for, be it a definition, a location or a way to purchase the thing we are seeking.
Unless you bookmark everything (or add to favorites) and spend time organizing and categorizing all the links, it can be very difficult to find again, because the search engines all use different protocols to figure out what you are looking for. What is really frustrating is that they frequently change their own protocols so that what you saw at the top of the list yesterday may not be in the top 100 today.
Another limiting thing about search engines is that they can’t take you where you don’t already know how to go. If you don’t know the name of something, you likely won’t find it. If what you are trying to do is examine ideas or explore directions of thought or create new ideas, search engines can be an exercise in futility.
I have recently been exposed to a different type of search, cataloguing or collecting concept called Pinterest. The creators describe it as a catalogue of ideas or a database of intentions. As I have begun to play around with it, I see the incredible possibilities to help me with planning, deciding, innovating and educating myself and others. Once you set up your Pinterest account (which for me was as easy as telling it to use my Facebook account), I immediately began creating collections (called boards – like a bulletin board on your wall). The first one I called “Geekies” (you name the collections yourself). It has things like keyboard shortcuts, common definitions of computer terms, a history of computers and lots of other stuff that may eventually end up in an article here. The next I called “Marvel-ous” which is pictures, quotes and ideas from the Marvel comics universe. I also started one to prepare for a trip that my wife and I want to take. My daughter created one to store ideas for her wedding, pictures of dresses, decorations, who pays for what lists, floral arrangements, honeymoon ideas, etc.
The thing that is different is that you don’t have to use search terms or remember where something was or even what it looks like. You “pin” something you find on a website or add pictures or documents from your own collections. Then you go back to that topic and can easily find a picture of that concept or idea, click on it and you are back to where you found it originally. You can choose whether your board is public or private. If it is public, others can view your pictures, ideas or even products you sell as they search for similar content through their own Pinterest account. If you make it private, no one else can look at what you are collecting unless you share it with them directly. My wife calls it her personal bulletin board and notes that it is never messy and things don’t get lost or covered up by the latest bills, etc.
I did all this in less than an hour, but it was so addicting that I almost didn’t finish up this article to share what I am learning with you. When you join Pinterest, it adds a pin button to your browser so you can easily add whatever you find to your boards. It works well on my PC, but it was actually designed for the iPad and iPhone to use on the go. It’s just another fun and productive thing to do on your computer. Just remember to protect your data, documents, pictures and your computer by always backing up anything important.
Shaun McCausland has worked in the computer industry for over 34 years, 27 years of it locally with Bits ‘N’ Bytes and Musicomp and currently works as a computer consultant. If you have questions you can reach him at 435-668-7118 or shaun@musicomp.net.