Tobii bundles some (Windows only) integration software with their EyeX. It allows you to click on whatever you are looking at with the press of an action button (left ctrl key for me), along with a few other features (eye tracking the alt-tab switcher is what I really like). It works okay, but eye tracking isn't quite as accurate as a mouse and you either need to make your icons big and widely spaced or you have to zoom in (with an action click) before selecting the icon precisely.
If eye-tracking is not a replacement, eye-tracking can still be used to initially teleport your cursor near your target, and then you can use the mouse to precisely place the cursor (Tobii EyeX (and Sentry?) has the feature).
I use a trackIR and linux-track with good success. The only issue is you have to have a reflective dot (or 3) on your head, ideally on the bill of a hat. It is accurate enough that I have to use the trackpad maybe once a day. I don't think it would work well for drawing or anything like that though ...
There's nothing wrong with your setup. I personally just got a Macbook Pro 13 inch because I wanted to become familiar with the Apple ecosystem, coming from mainly Windows and Linux worlds.
I can honestly say given a couple of weeks, I could be productive on any of the platforms. But it just comes down to preference here.
The issues you mention for manipulating windows - that is "fixed" by installing a Window Manager such as one of the following (some free, some paid);
Something interesting that I never thought about before:
Arguably, the BSD license in this case allows for more freedom in the short term (I can do whatever I want with this software...awesome!). But the GPL license, especially the older ones, helps promote a particular version of freedom in the long run. It's an interesting case.
"And the problem is growing. In 1985 most people said they had 3 close friends. In 2004 the most common number was zero...
This is sad, and for more reasons than you might expect. We need friends to keep us healthy. Lack of social support predicts all causes of death.
Having few friends is more dangerous than obesity and is the equivalent health risk of smoking 15 cigarettes a day."
I find it sad that folks seem to not have close friends. I would say I have 3 really close friends (emotionally) although I may not be close to them physically (we are in separate cities since we finished university).
Would most of you concur with the article? Do a lot of people really NOT have very close friends?
I think that we waste a lot of time in news feeds (HN/Youtube/Facebook/Twitter/etc). We are afraid of missing something important, and seeing that "something new" feels good. But once you've seen it, you move onto something else immediately. There is some neat research in this (see http://healthland.time.com/2013/08/31/this-is-your-brain-on-..., and I'm sure there are other meaningful sources as well).
I personally have noticed that I have this cycle:
1) I want something to do, perhaps for just a little while.
2) I think about doing something meaningful, but get a feeling of the task being overwealming, so I'm not going to do that right now.
3) I think of something that would be easy to do right now, and HN/FB/etc. comes up. You know, just for a little while.
4) I proceed to the FB/Reddit/HN/etc. cycle and before I know it, I've wasted way more time than I have intended.
This is my cycle, but I'm sure there are others that have something similar.
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I have a case of repetitive strain injury (RSI), so I have to minimize my computer use outside of working hours for sure.
How?
I have other things I like to do. I study Buddhism and Meditation at a local center on Wednesday nights. I go out with friends. I read. I listen to audio books. I have a hobby of studying philosophy and religion that takes up a ton of time (personal interest).
I watch Netflix using my gaming systems/tablet (although I try to minimize my gaming time to only on weekends occasionally).
This year I intend to try yoga and tai chi - both are supposed to be good for RSI sufferers.
I have noticed that I tend to read facebook more often if I leave it open on my tablet/phone (as you get notifications constantly). So I stopped that.
I generally try to limit Hacker News / Reddit / etc. to about 1 read a day. I open up all the articles in many tabs, and when I'm through that, I'm through. If I missed something important, it will come up again or someone I know will link me. I still sometimes fall into my cycle above, but at least I am more likely to notice that and avoid it now.
We don't have data centers in Canada, but Chicago may have recently been annexed to Canada. So, if you are fine with using a US based cloud account, just sign up and use the Chicago region/datacenter.
Would you be able to elaborate on "algebraical vs geometrical" thinking?
I've noticed myself that there are two types of "math" that people tend to be good at:
1) Algorithmic - Following a set of steps to achieve a particular result. Algorithms, discrete math, "compsci" math, and procedural and OO programming. Coders tend to be good at this kind.
2) "Abstract" - "Pure Math", what I would label as the harder kind of math, like calculating the intersection of planes, calculus, linear algebra, etc. Pure math majors and theoretical computer science folks are good at this kind.
I have met folks that are good at 1 or 2, or both.
Forgive me for my poor use of terms, I'm one of those folks that is not particularly great at math (mostly due to lack of practice) but I was always curious if my observation was backed up with any "real" terms or if there has been any research into this kind of thing. What you describe seems to be relatively close to what I've observed myself.
I know that I personally am much stronger with algebraic math than geometrical math. For me, that means that integrals, linear algebra, etc are something that I'm strong at, but I'm poor at anything that requires spatial reasoning.
That's different from your two types. For example, take your "calculating the intersection of planes." I would approach that by first writing the algebraic equations that define the two planes, then trying to find the manipulation that will let me solve for the intersection. Someone who is a geometric thinker might start by plotting the two planes, and reasoning spatially.
So, that distinction is wholly separate from your algorithmic/abstract distinction, and to me, is a distinction within the abstract realm.
For example, for an intersection of two planes going through origin, the plane equation coefficients are (a multiple of) the of the normal vector coefficients. Now, the intersection vector must be perpendicular to both planes normals, so if you take the cross product of the two vectors, you get the intersection vector.
This in this case I would just look at it and instantly do a cross product of the coefficients, whereas you would eventually do precisely the same, but reasoning algebraically, perhaps just as fast.
In this case, thinking algebraically doesn't seem to yield the intimate relationship with your object of study required for creativity, just because of the geometric nature of it.
But this reasoning wouldn't be much use in -- for instance -- fiddling with discrete mathematics, where you may get more intimate precisely by reasoning algebraically!
There was an essay from an extremely famous mathematician that I read not a long time ago on analytical vs geometrical oriented thinking in mathematics and I can't recall where it is and it is driving me crazy. If anyone knows what it is, please link it.
What about if you have a lot of student debt? Does that change things?
I have a bunch of student debt and I start paying interest in 6 months. I elected to work at a big company to get out of debt. The benefits and perks are amazing...and the learning opportunity is definitely there. It's turning into a great decision :)
Anyone out there go to a startup while they're in debt?
What are the root causes?
I'd imagine that companies would make MORE profit in a world with UBI because more individuals have more disposable income to use on their products.
Would they raise prices? If so, how do we make it work?