How to search a certain indexcard?
In my PoI method, one of important search key is own “history“. To search a certain indexcard, I must remember “when” I wrote the indexcard or the event was happened. This is something like Rob did in the movie High Fidelity (ref. 2006.09.05. 20:51).
I can’t remember all of the indexcards’ contents, of course. Rather, I write indexcard to forget. To enhance memory in time axis, I do following things,
- Try to remember “when” the event was happened
- Use calender to trigger memory
- Review indexcards sometimes
When I review my indexcards, I feel like I’m riding on time-machine :)
# This topic is based on discussion with Mr. R. B. Thank you.
December 4th, 2006 at 2:52 am
I guess this is the key that decides whether the whole thing succeeds or fails. To me, it seems like a significant leap of faith to trust that I will remember when I wrote a specific card; that’s why so many of us are drawn to digital methods. I guess a calendar could help, but a consistent recording in the calendar of when one wrote a card would obviously be too much effort.
If you had enough money to hire a research assistant to input all your cards into Tinderbox, or DevonThink, or something of that type, would you do it?
November 6th, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Think about it, though. What looks like a disadvantage of PoIC could end up being its advantage. During the hunt for the card, other cards, (other ideas) are retrieved; which in turn could trigger even more ideas. The “serendipity” factor at work, if you will. That factor of chance also comes into play when looking something up in a hard-bound encyclopedia vs. a computerized encyclopedia. The computer goes directly to the topic you specify, no “browsing.” Browsing can be productive, I have found.