You’ve read Donald Norman no doubt? In one of his books—I think it’s out of print—he discusses the hacks that pilots do to cockpit controls. Post-it notes, clothes pins, rubber bands…all ways to deal with identical looking controls that are poorly mapped to function. I think there’s a particular word for this kind of hack. It would be worth exploring. Anyhow, The Design of Everyday Things is worth reading if you haven’t recently.

Sounds like it was a great presentation - wish I could’ve been there to see it. :(

By the way, is that you on the right in that photo? If so, I just want to say that I love your show Good Eats. The episode about the science of Lemon meringue pie is my favorite :)

I’m addicted to your site precisely because I’m ADD — I really relate to the topic of life hacks because getting through the day requires it. If you’re thinking about picking up a book, I’d recommend Driven to Distraction by Edward Hollowell. It was a good starting place for me.

I’ll just pop out of the wood work and echo what Eliza said. I’m also ADD (well, really it’s ADHD, but who’s keeping track). This site has been an enormous resource of ideas and inspirational hacks that have helped me work with my ADHD rather than against it.

“especially given that I’ve always suspected I’m an undiagnosed ADD sufferer. May be a life-hacking gold mine there”

As another who suffers from undiagnosed ADDlikeness, I think this is definately true.

That’s funny, I was at the conference and watched the presentation because I too, have ADHD. I think we’re all drawn to technology because it is one of the few things that can accomodate our oddness. I physically cannot cope without tabbed browsing anymore. Anyway, take heart there is a new movement afoot. ADHDers are beginning to argue that we’re biologically pre-configured to take advantage of the Internet. As we craftily work multiple online dating sites our progeny will slowly take over the world. The Internet is going to shape evolution.

OK, enough with the crazy theories but the weird kid with webbed fingers and toes will be a gigolo when the icecaps melt. Nice presentation by the way, it was hard to find a seat.

I thought the presentation was a blast. Especially as one of the three people who laughed at “Fitt’s Law, don’t fail me now!!”

BTW, here’s my notes from your session. Cheers.

being recently diagnosed /w add… please for the love of everything that is good and pure, post more..umm…”ADD-lifehacks”..! :)

I used to think I had (self-diagnosed) ADD/ADHD but I kind of doubt it now.

From Phil, in the first comment:

Donald Norman…In one of his books…discusses the hacks that pilots do to cockpit controls. Post-it notes, clothes pins, rubber bands…all ways to deal with identical looking controls that are poorly mapped to function.

I’ve seen this elsewhere and I am a touch skeptical, so I sent it to “Ask The Pilot” on Salon.com, who has covered many interesting airline/airplane/aviation topics. I’ll let you know what I find out.

…I’ve always suspected I’m an undiagnosed ADD sufferer…

ADD “suffering” can be alleviated once you accept that ADD isn’t as much a “disorder” as it is a “condition.” The key, I think, is to fashion “hacks” that work with the unique set of characteristics that it constitutes for you, rather than those that aim to fight your ADDness.

I just came across 43Folders and have added the feed to my aggregator.