I’ve been thinking a lot about rumination recently… actually have been for quite a while. Obviously, rumination can hinder productivity. Psychologists have looked at the dark-side of rumination, to the point of defining it as counterproductive. However, some measure of obsession and tenacity is required in order to stick with and solve hard problems. The history of expertise and creativity in science are a testament to such tenacity. (See the discussion of cognitive miserliness and other thinking dispositions in Cognitive Productivity. [Footnote 1] )
Continue reading On Ruminating and Intrusive Thinking…
Category: CogZest
Benefitting From Potent Knowledge Gems on Acceptance and Commitment and Other Topics
Getting enough high quality sleep is important for cognitive productivity. I’ve developed a technique called the cognitive shuffle. This is a technique that you can use in bed to ease you into sleep. I always try to make it clear that it is not a silver bullet. I recently posted an article on mySleepButton about how it can be used with acceptance and commitment therapy. “Acceptance and commitment” is a “third wave” psychological framework that aims to help people better relate to the content their minds generate. (That framework has some dubious “behavioral” theoretical baggage which you can safely ignore.)
Gratitude for an Excellent Web Developer/IT Service Provider
CogZest’s mission is “To help you use knowledge to become more effective.” We study, develop and celebrate expertise. I like working with great minds. (Who wouldn’t?) It improves my understanding of expertise and improves the quality of my work.
So, it’s a pleasure to reflect on the IT and web development services Jeff Rivett has provided to CogSci Apps Corp. and CogZest.
Continue reading Gratitude for an Excellent Web Developer/IT Service Provider
“Information Overload” and Productivity
Yesterday, I was interviewed by Ian Jessop of CFAX 1050 Victoria on the topic of “Information Overload and Cognitive Productivity”. We had a good 20-minute chat. Here are some of my reflections on the topic.
Information Overload Myths and Realities
Assessing and Enhancing Knowledge Workers’ Meta-Documentation and Self-Testing: A SSHRC Grant Proposal
I recently applied for a 2-year SSHRC grant to study some of the problems with which Cognitive Productivity is concerned, such as
- the challenges knowledge workers face (a) in learning with technology and more generally (b) processing knowledge resources with technology;
- the effectiveness of proposed solutions to these challenges.
It is important to study these issues because we depend on knowledge workers to specify and solve humanity’s most critical and complex problems! These people are the “engine” of the knowledge economy.
Canada 300 BC and the Passing of Dr. Adam Chowaniec: Developing the Knowledge Economy
At first, I assumed the invitation from Canada 300 was spam. It said I had been nominated as one of only 25 community leaders in Vancouver to participate in an in-depth, national conversation on the future of Canada. But then I received an email confirming it was legitimate. And the National Post published an article by Tamara Sestanj on it. So, intrigued (as I remain), I reviewed the documentation.
Through an innovative use of arts and technology, we want to capture the promise of what Canada will be seven generations from now.
Color and Placement in Designing Promotion Videos: What Has Cognitive Science to Say?
In designing a 2D character animation promotion video, I wanted to know:
- whether, to what extent, and how affective perception is affected by color;
- whether placing an object on the left side would provide a more positively valenced affective response than the right.
My 2015 Progress Update (to Feb 15)
Already mid-February! A good time to see whether I’m on track for my 2015 plans.
I’ve never published my personal progress reports online before. But I wanted to take a detailed look at the last few weeks. And it might be helpful to some of my collaborators, stakeholders, clients or customers, who only see a certain slice of my life. Also, it will give you a picture of the R&D behind the products I develop. I run different facets of my projects through different organizations ( CogZest, CogSci Apps Corp. and Simon Fraser University). It also illustrates the variety of tasks that small business leaders engage in.
Some Myths and Productive Ideas About Consciousness
This is the third and probably final installment in a series of posts in preparation for the 2015–02–22 Beacon Humanist Group’s meeting on “consciousness”. (It was due to occur at the end of January but I couldn’t make that date in the end.)
There is more material here than I can get through in my brief presentation. Make a note of what you’d like to discuss during the meeting. If I skip a statement of interest to you, we can hopefully return to it in the discussion.
I won’t be lecturing on what consciousness is or how it works. Instead I will briefly present common myths about consciousness and propose some helpful ideas to better understand conscious and nearly conscious experience. Then as usual we will have a moderated discussion.
Myths about Consciousness
Continue reading Some Myths and Productive Ideas About Consciousness
Lovers, Intellectual Loneliness, and an Enigma
CogZest is for and about beautiful, passionate minds. So, it’s natural for me to respond to The Imitation Game.
The film received mixed reviews. Many of those knowledgeable about Turing and the Enigma project were disappointed by the film’s lack of fidelity, particularly given how fascinating these subjects are in reality. I did not expect to see a documentary, nor something outside Hollywood’s style, so I wasn’t disappointed. I’ve used the divertissement’s themes as a cognitive springboard rather than a trampoline to which I frequently return for inspiration, let alone for factual information.
It being Valentine’s day (and given that I am nursing an R&D project dealing with romantic love), it seems appropriate to launch into the theme of intellectual loneliness, companionship and romantic love, to which The Imitation Game alluded.
Continue reading Lovers, Intellectual Loneliness, and an Enigma