Comments for Words Byte http://bentwrite.wordpress.com The Computer as Intellectual Prosthetic Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:23:43 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on Prosthetic Pen? by Nick Shear http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2009/08/10/prosthetic-pen/#comment-20 Nick Shear Mon, 17 Aug 2009 23:23:43 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/?p=98#comment-20 Your son is one lucky kid! I bet he will use it well! Your son is one lucky kid! I bet he will use it well!

]]> Comment on Tap, Tap, Tap… Who’s there, the Raven or Marshall McLuhan? by BentWrite http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/tap-tap-tap-whos-there-the-raven-or-marshall-mcluhan/#comment-12 BentWrite Sat, 16 May 2009 15:31:46 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/tap-tap-tap-whos-there-the-raven-or-marshall-mcluhan/#comment-12 The blog is back. The blog is back.

]]> Comment on Tap, Tap, Tap… Who’s there, the Raven or Marshall McLuhan? by Oliver http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/tap-tap-tap-whos-there-the-raven-or-marshall-mcluhan/#comment-11 Oliver Tue, 20 Jan 2009 20:10:01 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2008/01/20/tap-tap-tap-whos-there-the-raven-or-marshall-mcluhan/#comment-11 Hi. Writing from the New York Observer concerning proprietary rights over an article by Jeff Shear. How can I get in touch? Please email contact info at provided address. Thank you. Hi. Writing from the New York Observer concerning proprietary rights over an article by Jeff Shear. How can I get in touch? Please email contact info at provided address. Thank you.

]]> Comment on An idea is a nest, is a nest, is a nest… a nest by BentWrite http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/22/an-idea-is-a-nest-is-a-nest-is-a-nest-a-nest/#comment-9 BentWrite Tue, 08 Jan 2008 22:58:17 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/22/an-idea-is-a-nest-is-a-nest-is-a-nest-a-nest/#comment-9 Smokey Forester, a documentary TV producer in New York, wrote to me: “I agree with you that we are connected with the minds of the software writers as we do our work on our computers. I’m not a writer so my work is different and the minds I connect with are different, but the effect is the same. I definitely approach tasks and problems differently than I used to (before computers, if you can imagine such a world) because of the way the software is written.” Smokey Forester, a documentary TV producer in New York, wrote to me: “I agree with you that we are connected with the minds of the software writers as we do our work on our computers. I’m not a writer so my work is different and the minds I connect with are different, but the effect is the same. I definitely approach tasks and problems differently than I used to (before computers, if you can imagine such a world) because of the way the software is written.”

]]> Comment on Pass it on… by Smokey http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/pass-it-on/#comment-8 Smokey Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:17:25 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2008/01/03/pass-it-on/#comment-8 Smokey Forester, a documentary TV producer in New York, wrote to me: "I agree with you that we are connected with the minds of the software writers as we do our work on our computers. I’m not a writer so my work is different and the minds I connect with are different, but the effect is the same. I definitely approach tasks and problems differently than I used to (before computers, if you can imagine such a world) because of the way the software is written." A piece of software functions like an intellectual prosthetic. Smokey Forester, a documentary TV producer in New York, wrote to me: “I agree with you that we are connected with the minds of the software writers as we do our work on our computers. I’m not a writer so my work is different and the minds I connect with are different, but the effect is the same. I definitely approach tasks and problems differently than I used to (before computers, if you can imagine such a world) because of the way the software is written.” A piece of software functions like an intellectual prosthetic.

]]> Comment on Mind Maps by William Carroll http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/mind-maps/#comment-6 William Carroll Fri, 21 Dec 2007 17:04:57 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/18/mind-maps/#comment-6 Having started with Inspiration years ago, and in recent years using NovaMind, midmapping has always held an elusive allure for me. Quite frankly, MindMapping works, but where does artificial intelligence step in and take us to the next level? I'd agree, Tinderbox scared the pants right off me ... metaphorically, because the interface and jargon just didn't speak to me. I came accross another program years ago called The Brain, and it has resurfaced in Mac version this last year. Cool concepts, but we still seem to be pretty far from an application that can effortlessly transform random notes, articles, thoughts, and whatever else might be on our computers, into relationships that make sense. Oh well, maybe I'll just open a Terminal window on my Mac and see if I can find a UNIX command to send my MacBook off to find Sarah Connor .... Having started with Inspiration years ago, and in recent years using NovaMind, midmapping has always held an elusive allure for me. Quite frankly, MindMapping works, but where does artificial intelligence step in and take us to the next level? I’d agree, Tinderbox scared the pants right off me … metaphorically, because the interface and jargon just didn’t speak to me. I came accross another program years ago called The Brain, and it has resurfaced in Mac version this last year. Cool concepts, but we still seem to be pretty far from an application that can effortlessly transform random notes, articles, thoughts, and whatever else might be on our computers, into relationships that make sense. Oh well, maybe I’ll just open a Terminal window on my Mac and see if I can find a UNIX command to send my MacBook off to find Sarah Connor ….

]]> Comment on Writing Bent by BentWrite http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/writing-bent/#comment-4 BentWrite Sat, 15 Dec 2007 22:19:59 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/writing-bent/#comment-4 I'm certainly interested in adding tools, and I welcome suggestions. (In fact, I'm always on the lookout for better software for writing and editing and thinking and...etc.) "Timeline" sounds like a tool I should consider. I find timelines to be invaluable, particularly when they are "overlaid": mixing historical events with character action, for instance. Apparently Tinderbox is especially good for this. Check out: http://simile.mit.edu/timeline/ Actually this "Tinderbox" example raises an important question for writers. What should come first, the software expertise or the hard labor of turning out good prose? Does the former get in the way of the later? Life is short; writing can take forever. A question I would pose to those who comment on the blog, if you will: Have you sensed that certain software is not only more useful to you, but that the software designer's algorithms or heuristics (ouch, big word) "influence" your own logic? Do they alter the way you approach the problem of writing? If so, what are you thoughts about those effects? Have you seen research on the subject? Who else has been thinking about this idea? I’m certainly interested in adding tools, and I welcome suggestions. (In fact, I’m always on the lookout for better software for writing and editing and thinking and…etc.) “Timeline” sounds like a tool I should consider. I find timelines to be invaluable, particularly when they are “overlaid”: mixing historical events with character action, for instance. Apparently Tinderbox is especially good for this. Check out: http://simile.mit.edu/timeline/ Actually this “Tinderbox” example raises an important question for writers. What should come first, the software expertise or the hard labor of turning out good prose? Does the former get in the way of the later? Life is short; writing can take forever.

A question I would pose to those who comment on the blog, if you will: Have you sensed that certain software is not only more useful to you, but that the software designer’s algorithms or heuristics (ouch, big word) “influence” your own logic? Do they alter the way you approach the problem of writing? If so, what are you thoughts about those effects? Have you seen research on the subject? Who else has been thinking about this idea?

]]> Comment on Writing Bent by JP Russell http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/writing-bent/#comment-3 JP Russell Sat, 15 Dec 2007 19:51:16 +0000 http://bentwrite.wordpress.com/2007/12/07/writing-bent/#comment-3 Jeff, Not that you asked for suggestions of even more writing software to ruminate on, but here's the ones I use: DevonThink Pro (research, compiling, sorting, pondering); Timeline (tracking multiple plot points and characters); and Scrivener (distilled research and the actual writing - fiction and nonfiction); any word processor handy to output and send to editors/publishers. BTW, interesting blog so far. Will follow it with interest. JP Jeff,

Not that you asked for suggestions of even more writing software to ruminate on, but here’s the ones I use: DevonThink Pro (research, compiling, sorting, pondering); Timeline (tracking multiple plot points and characters); and Scrivener (distilled research and the actual writing – fiction and nonfiction); any word processor handy to output and send to editors/publishers.

BTW, interesting blog so far. Will follow it with interest.

JP

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