Category: CogZest

TextExpander Wish List: (Learn) Multiple Abbreviations for the Same Snippet, Plurals, Contacts, Conventions

There are some features I have long wanted one of my favourite apps, TextExpander, to have. Some of them are motivated by the fact that, although I do have conventions for naming my abbreviations, I can’t always remember the abbreviation. Moreover, I sometimes repeat the same typing mistake. But more generally they are motivated by the idea that a modern text expansion should know my intentions.

To pick some of the items from the top of my TextExpander wish list, I’d like Continue reading TextExpander Wish List: (Learn) Multiple Abbreviations for the Same Snippet, Plurals, Contacts, Conventions

Ingenuity Sans Apple SmartBoard: Sweet and Sour Grapes

My Cognitive Productivity with macOS book does not yet have a section on Apple’s “smart board” because, well, Apple does not yet manufacture one (for sale, at least). And when Apple does, the device will (presumably) run iOS.

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Extras for Cognitive Productivity with macOS Book Are Now Available as a Separate Package from Its Leanpub Web Page

Update 2019-05-16

The original post below is no longer valid. I have removed the “extras” only package of Cognitive Productivity with macOS from Leanpub. Rationale: Leanpub has clarified that all packages must include books. If you purchased the $5.00 “extras only” package, then you will still have access to it. But it is no longer for sale separately.

The original package of this book, which contains the book and all the extras, remains available for sale.

Continue reading Extras for Cognitive Productivity with macOS Book Are Now Available as a Separate Package from Its Leanpub Web Page

Exploiting Potentially Helpful macOS Messages Conversations Using OmniOutliner

Messages → OmniOutliner → knowledge

After a potentially illuminating chat over macOS Messages, I often want to access parts of the conversation. This post very briefly describes some of the functionality I require from a messaging app, and how I work-around the limitations of Apple’s Messages app.

Continue reading Exploiting Potentially Helpful macOS Messages Conversations Using OmniOutliner

A Book for Our “Post-truth”, “Pre-meta-effectiveness”, Times Launches on June 18

On Monday, June 18, the complete version of Cognitive Productivity with macOS®: 7 Principles for Getting Smarter with Knowledge will be launched.

Cognitive Productivity books can be read as pro-active responses to the “post-truth” era. More generally, however, they are meant to deal with the fact that we are still in pre-meta-effectiveness times. “Meta-effectiveness” refers to the abilities and dispositions to use knowledge to become more effective, meaning better at understanding, solving problems, building products (including new knowledge) and living according to our values. Respect for truth is a subset of meta-effectiveness. One can have respect for truth and yet not use knowledge optimally.

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Continue reading A Book for Our “Post-truth”, “Pre-meta-effectiveness”, Times Launches on June 18

Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration of Powerful Structuring Ideas

I’ve just published a new section in Principle 7, “Apply Knowledge” of Cognitive Productivity with macOS. It is called “Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration of Powerful Structuring Ideas”. The book is now 99% complete. Continue reading Nurture Your Fondness and Admiration of Powerful Structuring Ideas

Creative Off-line Problem-Solving with Cognitive Task Lists

Creative work requires considerable perseverance and productive obsession. This in turn calls for a certain kind of mind. Not everyone is mentally inclined to think deeply and extensively. Without adequate self-regulation, brain power can be wasted by unproductive “perturbance”. That is when insistent motivators hijack one’s thinking, leading to repetitive thought —emotion, rumination, worry, obsession, perseveration, etc.

Continue reading Creative Off-line Problem-Solving with Cognitive Task Lists

Announcing the CogSci Apps Website and Other Good Things to Come


In prior updates, I’ve hinted that I am close to publicly releasing several products from several interrelated projects on which I’ve been collaborating at CogZest, CogSci Apps Corp., and Simon Fraser University.

I’m pleased to announce the first of two new CogSci Apps websites of 2018. This one is for CogSci Apps itself. Continue reading Announcing the CogSci Apps Website and Other Good Things to Come