Feature request: Nirvana Showroom
We are discussing a lot in these forums about how each of us uses Nirvana, how we implement GTD, what tweaks we make, how we use Nirvana with other tools, etc.
Many of these discussions are quite theoretical. I would personally learn a lot if I could see some sort of a "showroom" of community contributors' Nirvana system. Real world stuff of HOW people use Nirvana. This could be descriptions/screenshots/mindmap, whatever. And then people could ask questions and discuss each system.
This would be a great addition to the Nirvana community and let us all learn. Personally I learn much better if I see some real world examples and descriptions.
Stuff like:
- how do we use areas/contexts/contacts?
- what is our workflow?
- how do we integrate Nirvana with 3rd party apps?
- etc
2 Posted by Proximo on 06 Feb, 2012 06:11 PM
I will work on some new videos in my Youtube channel once Nirvana goes live. Things started changing so much that I quit making the videos.
I think it's a great idea by the way. :-)
3 Posted by Phil on 07 Feb, 2012 03:46 AM
Yea, I was thinking user made videos might be the best route. Then I thought, "But the only person with enough passion and devotion to do that is Proximo." :-P
But seriously, it is a good idea. Maybe Nirvana could host the best of the user made videos on a page of their website once the service opens. Sort of a "How I use Nirvana" marketing page.
4 Posted by Folke on 07 Feb, 2012 09:55 AM
All this is great. Different users have different preferences, and all can benefit from other users' experiences and tweaks.
What I think is very essential in addition, though, is for Nirvana to have its own user instruction - the intended vanilla flavor untweaked usage, which also explains why the features are the way they are. If the intended usage and feature set are unambiguous and clear enough, and based on GTD, then this explanation can be very straightforward and make even novice get productive very quickly using the standard GTD/Nirvana setup.
Without such an official explanation/tutorial and a 100% consistent UI there will be increasing pressure on the app for diversification in all directions.
5 Posted by Proximo on 07 Feb, 2012 04:56 PM
@Folke
When Nirvana goes live, the Development team is going to create the basic video tutorials on their site for new users. They confirmed this some time ago but I am too lazy to search and find it.
I could always create the tutorials for them and save them the work. You won't see the "Later" list on any of my videos. ROFL
I think Dafyren has a cool suggestion because many Design related forums have a Community Showroom section were tutorials, videos or rendering are posted by the users to share with others.
6 Posted by Folke on 07 Feb, 2012 05:46 PM
Absolutely. I think it is great, too, with a showroom, showing hacks and tweaks for all kinds of special cases and individual tastes. My word of caution was aimed more against a potential vacuum in the middle - there should be one very well thought-out official default setting and standard usage instruction (with no alternative options until a separate chapter at the end). New users need an unambiguous and clear instruction. Nobody wants to see a new Toodledo scenario growing in all directions and no official description or usage system.
(Actually, as an aside, for Toodledo there is an unofficial usage system called Master Your Now, which is a very basic mini-sibling of GTD, with predefined Toodledo settings on an unlisted Toodledo page for which columns are enabled etc + a free online PDF instruction manual for Toodledo and Outlook. Google for Michael Linenberger if you are curious. There is a link to the unlisted Toodledo setup page in his pdf. Linenberger recommends Toodledo over Outlook for non-corporate usage. Maybe it is possible to sway him into recommending Nirvana instead in his books :-) And Davidco should recommend Nirvana, of course :-) And possibly Mark Forster (Do It Tomorrow) :-) There could be showcases about using Nirvana for all of these systems. (And maybe some alternative default settings for list names etc down the road ... not this year. They are all very similar review-based systems.)
7 Posted by Proximo on 07 Feb, 2012 06:53 PM
I understand your point Folke.
I hope that Nirvana keeps the software simple and prevents the Toodledo effect all together. If Nirvana does not add hundreds of options, triggers and settings, it won't be possible to make it work outside the Vanilla method. This is the problem with Toodledo and I don't see it happening here.
I think of Nirvana like iOS. A very well though out design that is controlled by the parent company to keep simplicity and ease of use as the most important feature. I think of Toodledo like Android. A platform with hundreds of options, tweaks and settings that allows the users to go wild with every imaginable idea possible and creates something that is a mess for people who want to simply be productive.
Android users spend a lot of time messing with all their settings, hacks, versions, implementations, etc. This is only true because Google does not control the experience and it's a free for all. I bet if Google could have seen further into the future, they would have added more control on their end and less flexibility for 3rd parties. Google created their own mess and I don't see that happening with Nirvana.
I think the Nirvana team is not interested in having every option known to man for the sake of pleasing every user for every habit or system they wish to implement. Nirvana is more like Apple in that they have a vision for a user experience that allows productivity to take place with a simple and easy to use system. Yes, they will have options but they will be careful to not allow anything to drive them away from their vision and create a situation were people could change Nirvana in such a way that it does not resemble the initial "Vanilla" idea.
With this said, I think the "Showroom" idea will be more sharing on tips about productivity itself and not how to setup Nirvana.
"IF" Videos can be made to showcase how to setup Nirvana, I think Nirvana failed it's mission.
That's my word of caution to Nirvana, although I think they would agree that their goal is to keep Nirvana simple and easy to use. You can add options for users without creating a situation like Toodledo.
Not putting down the Android platform. Toodledo is a great system for people who need something they can customize to fit a unique productivity process and it's a platform that allows you to change it dramatically to fit that need. Android is great and provides that same flexibility but it also adds complexity and confusion in the process.
Toodledo = Android
Nirvana = iOS
Just saying.....
8 Posted by Nicole on 08 Feb, 2012 02:30 AM
"Android users spend a lot of time messing with all their settings, hacks, versions, implementations, etc."
I think that's an over-generalization. I don't make any changes to my Droid or treat it any differently than I would an iPhone. (Except that I happen to drop it occasionally and have not broken the screen.)
9 Posted by Folke on 08 Feb, 2012 07:54 PM
@Proximo
The fact is that it is already very easy to use Nirvana totally outside of the Vanilla GTD mode, and that those who use it in the "opposite way" will constitute an ever more powerful pressure group unless the vast majority are sold on the fundamental merits of GTD.
I think the root of the communication problem is the reviews. GTD at its heart is review based, which means, strictly speaking, you do not need anything to pop up automatically anywhere under any circumstances. This is, and probably always will be, totally alien to most people. We have been told for nearly a century that the key to successful time management is to plan even your personal little chores carefully in a calendar etc. And I have met people who did just that even in back in the pre-computer days. Today it is even more so, when a majority of people base their actions on electronic schedules and reminders beeping in ther iPhones. Everything is pre-programmed into a machine, then forgotten, and "work orders" then suddenly pop up out of the blue, which they must obey. There is no clear overview or thorough review. There is no freedom of choice, only duties. And there is no such thing as making the best use of the present circumstances (available time, energy, context and priority). Schedulitis is a pandemic. You can bet there will be quite a number of such users who will stumble upon Nirvana because they have heard it is cool or because some friend uses it etc. And then they will begin to fill up the forum with questions and requests, because they do not understand the underlying philosophy of GTD. It is necessary they be told not only about all the buttons and variations in Nirvana, but also how to think in terms of GTD, especially how and when to do what kinds of reviews and what lists and filters etc to use at those times. Plain vanilla usage. Emphasis on clear overview and "carpe diem" :-) (make the best of the present situation).
Examples of things that need not be mentioned at all until chapter 99 ("Dubious tweaks for the notorious hacker") are:
Yes, this is all very basic, I know. But I think you have to start with the basics.
10 Posted by dafyren on 08 Feb, 2012 09:47 PM
Good points Folke and I think this shows how important it is to create proper official documentation and guidance. Lot of videos, guides, etc. that show how to use Nirvana the real GTD way.
Also Nirvana should use lot of "in-built" guidance to help people use Nirvana the right way.
Great last point that you write. I do this mistake myself. New items arrived in Focus should be highlighted or something. But I suggest they do not go to Inbox as this would confuse many users, and as you write probably 90% will become next actions anyway.
11 Posted by Proximo on 08 Feb, 2012 11:00 PM
@Folke,
I agree with you. Documentation and Videos are very important and there should be a section were Nirvana can introduce the system to new users while explaining the GTD philosophy.
I was just pointing out that if Nirvana sticks to it's goal of keeping things simple and centered around GTD. I don't think we need to worry about videos from users showing how to setup Nirvana, but rather, how they use it to be productive.
Guess I am not clear here and I apologize.
As for @Nicole.
"Except that I happen to drop it occasionally and have not broken the screen"
OUCH! Good one.
If your Android did not weight 100 lbs with a screen so large you need two hands to operate the thing with, you may drop it less. BAM!
:-)
The crazy thing is that I am one of the most hard core Google Services users you will ever meet. Love Google Service, but hate the open and uncontrolled experience called Android. :-(
My home computer is a Chromebook. The CR-48 to be exact. If Google took control of the Android echo system, it would be so much better. One day I hope to walk in and choose an Android phone without having to ask what version of the OS it runs, What UI theme it runs, What built it apps it has that can't be removed, etc.
OK... Back on topic here.
Documentation and Videos would be great. A Showroom for the community to share productivity tips would also be great. We do this today, but it's usually tied to a question and hard to find that tip later. The Showroom would create a much easier place for us to learn from each other.