Gadgets

  • Help Your Body to Calm Down – And Your Mind Will Follow

     

    Trading is often stressful. Learning how to handle the emotional and physiological response patterns is an important step toward long-term success.

    During market turmoil, sometimes I notice the seeds of fear, uncertainty, and doubt in my body. Rather than succumbing to this, I have developed a number of coping practices and techniques.

    • The first is simply to follow our trading rules and trust in the process;
    • The second is to rely on automation as much as possible;  and
    • The third is to recognize that my body's cues are an important signal for me to take action.


    Man and Dog Running - istock_000003768984xsmall One of the best ways of coping with stress, for me, is to exercise regularly.

    Have you ever noticed how animals shake or tremble when they are traumatized? These physical activities may be nature's way of helping discharge stress hormones, purge excess energy and release muscle tension.

    For humans, exercise is a pretty close analog to this. I know that I feel better after an hour of brisk activity to get my heart rate up, to sweat, and then to calm down. Somehow this tells my body that the agitation was expected; and now the relaxation is a good and appropriate response, too.

    Another technique that works for me is to use music enhanced with tones to help me meditate or relax.  An example of this is the Centerpointe Holosync package.  Another set that I enjoy is Hemi-Sync music from the Monroe Institute.

    When I get really stressed, though, my wife tells me that it's time for me to use my "light and sound machine." I think my using it helps her as much as me.

    As the name implies, it combines visual and audio stimulation.   So, how does it work?  The short answer is that brain activity naturally falls in-sync with lights flashing at a certain frequencies. And you can encourage certain brain wave patterns by controlling the frequency, color and intensity of the pulses.  Supplementing this with a similar technique based on sound compounds the effect. 

    Procyon Kit Most of these devices include small LED lights mounted in a pair of eye glasses and headphones. The lights and sounds synchronized by a small control unit.  The mind machine that I use, called a Procyon, includes 50 unique, pre-programmed light and sound stimulation sequences within its internal memory, each designed with a specific goal in mind (for example, relaxation, concentration, accelerated learning, creativity, or rejuvenation). Procyon also has the ability to synchronize with audio material on a CD or MP3 – or with AudioStrobe programs.

    Screensaver Example Behind your closed eyelids you will see a kaleidoscope of color, layers of fractals and a variety of screensaver-like imagery. Once you get used to it, the experience is quite pleasant. 

    It's pretty foo-foo; so I'm not going to pretend that this is 100% scientific and logical. Nonetheless, I believe that it is a lot more than a placebo.  Why? Because I have empirical evidence that it works.

    Most importantly, I feel better after I do it. In addition, a biofeedback machine (which measures brain waves, pulse, galvanic skin response and other stress indicators) confirms that the light and sound machine works dramatically and quickly.

    It works on almost everyone I've watched try it (and I've done this with CEOs, programmers, traders, staff members, and a bunch of others). However, it does not work on people who fight it.  And I am amazed at how many people fight it, initially.  After a few minutes, most simply let go and let the technology un-ruffle their feathers.

     The possibilities are great, and the technology is effective. However, the only way to truly appreciate the light sound experience is to try a mind machine for yourself.

  • Help Your Body to Calm Down – And Your Mind Will Follow

     

    Trading is often stressful. Learning how to handle the emotional and physiological response patterns is an important step toward long-term success.

    During market turmoil, sometimes I notice the seeds of fear, uncertainty, and doubt in my body. Rather than succumbing to this, I have developed a number of coping practices and techniques.

    • The first is simply to follow our trading rules and trust in the process;
    • The second is to rely on automation as much as possible;  and
    • The third is to recognize that my body's cues are an important signal for me to take action.


    Man and Dog Running - istock_000003768984xsmall One of the best ways of coping with stress, for me, is to exercise regularly.

    Have you ever noticed how animals shake or tremble when they are traumatized? These physical activities may be nature's way of helping discharge stress hormones, purge excess energy and release muscle tension.

    For humans, exercise is a pretty close analog to this. I know that I feel better after an hour of brisk activity to get my heart rate up, to sweat, and then to calm down. Somehow this tells my body that the agitation was expected; and now the relaxation is a good and appropriate response, too.

    Another technique that works for me is to use music enhanced with tones to help me meditate or relax.  An example of this is the Centerpointe Holosync package.  Another set that I enjoy is Hemi-Sync music from the Monroe Institute.

    When I get really stressed, though, my wife tells me that it's time for me to use my "light and sound machine." I think my using it helps her as much as me.

    As the name implies, it combines visual and audio stimulation.   So, how does it work?  The short answer is that brain activity naturally falls in-sync with lights flashing at a certain frequencies. And you can encourage certain brain wave patterns by controlling the frequency, color and intensity of the pulses.  Supplementing this with a similar technique based on sound compounds the effect. 

    Procyon Kit Most of these devices include small LED lights mounted in a pair of eye glasses and headphones. The lights and sounds synchronized by a small control unit.  The mind machine that I use, called a Procyon, includes 50 unique, pre-programmed light and sound stimulation sequences within its internal memory, each designed with a specific goal in mind (for example, relaxation, concentration, accelerated learning, creativity, or rejuvenation). Procyon also has the ability to synchronize with audio material on a CD or MP3 – or with AudioStrobe programs.

    Screensaver Example Behind your closed eyelids you will see a kaleidoscope of color, layers of fractals and a variety of screensaver-like imagery. Once you get used to it, the experience is quite pleasant. 

    It's pretty foo-foo; so I'm not going to pretend that this is 100% scientific and logical. Nonetheless, I believe that it is a lot more than a placebo.  Why? Because I have empirical evidence that it works.

    Most importantly, I feel better after I do it. In addition, a biofeedback machine (which measures brain waves, pulse, galvanic skin response and other stress indicators) confirms that the light and sound machine works dramatically and quickly.

    It works on almost everyone I've watched try it (and I've done this with CEOs, programmers, traders, staff members, and a bunch of others). However, it does not work on people who fight it.  And I am amazed at how many people fight it, initially.  After a few minutes, most simply let go and let the technology un-ruffle their feathers.

     The possibilities are great, and the technology is effective. However, the only way to truly appreciate the light sound experience is to try a mind machine for yourself.

  • iPhone App (Hoax?)

    This video is spreading quickly, and though speculation is that it is a mock-up, I found it to be quite compelling.  Somehow I get the sense that it demonstrates a sliver of what's to come.

    My guess is that we will start to see data visualization applications, using similar technologies, that will enable users to access data in powerful new ways.


    iHologram – iPhone application from David OReilly on Vimeo.

  • iPhone App (Hoax?)

    This video is spreading quickly, and though speculation is that it is a mock-up, I found it to be quite compelling.  Somehow I get the sense that it demonstrates a sliver of what's to come.

    My guess is that we will start to see data visualization applications, using similar technologies, that will enable users to access data in powerful new ways.


    iHologram – iPhone application from David OReilly on Vimeo.

  • LiveScribe – All Things Fit to Print

    Livescribe 250p I got a new gadget. It is a Livescribe pen that records both what it hears and what you write.

    From a small sample of using it about a dozen times so far, I am impressed; Livescribe works great, and delivers immediate benefit at meetings and seminars.  I use it to review conversations and brain-storming sessions for clarification, or to catch something I missed the first time through.

    It generates an interesting polarity of responses though. Some people get it instantly and want to know where they can buy them.  Others couldn't care less.  No one objected to its use during the meeting – and I suspect that it became invisible quickly.

    It records about a hundred hours of surprisingly clear audio.  The pen has a camera, just above the tip, that captures the image of what is being written — and synchronizes this to what you hear or say.  And if you go back and touch the tip of the pen to writing on the page, you hear what was being said while it was written.  You can even control the playback speed to go faster, or slower, when you want.

    The Livescribe pen looks and feels nice.  It comes with a leather travel case and a dock to sync it with your computer.  There is well-designed software that lets you manage and share the results. Livescribe created a place to post "pen-casts" online, to share with your team.  You can limit who see it with an access control list or leave it open.  Click here for an example.

    I'm sending my son to back to school with one.  It seems like the perfect environment for a tool like this. 

    All-in-all, Livescribe is worth a try. For more information about this interesting technology, here is the Livescribe's site.

    Here are some video demos.

    It looks like college book stores and Amazon are expected to be the big distribution channels.

  • LiveScribe – All Things Fit to Print

    Livescribe 250p I got a new gadget. It is a Livescribe pen that records both what it hears and what you write.

    From a small sample of using it about a dozen times so far, I am impressed; Livescribe works great, and delivers immediate benefit at meetings and seminars.  I use it to review conversations and brain-storming sessions for clarification, or to catch something I missed the first time through.

    It generates an interesting polarity of responses though. Some people get it instantly and want to know where they can buy them.  Others couldn't care less.  No one objected to its use during the meeting – and I suspect that it became invisible quickly.

    It records about a hundred hours of surprisingly clear audio.  The pen has a camera, just above the tip, that captures the image of what is being written — and synchronizes this to what you hear or say.  And if you go back and touch the tip of the pen to writing on the page, you hear what was being said while it was written.  You can even control the playback speed to go faster, or slower, when you want.

    The Livescribe pen looks and feels nice.  It comes with a leather travel case and a dock to sync it with your computer.  There is well-designed software that lets you manage and share the results. Livescribe created a place to post "pen-casts" online, to share with your team.  You can limit who see it with an access control list or leave it open.  Click here for an example.

    I'm sending my son to back to school with one.  It seems like the perfect environment for a tool like this. 

    All-in-all, Livescribe is worth a try. For more information about this interesting technology, here is the Livescribe's site.

    Here are some video demos.

    It looks like college book stores and Amazon are expected to be the big distribution channels.

  • Japanese Gadget Innovation

    Chindōgu is the Japanese art of inventing ingenious
    everyday gadgets that, on the face of it, seem like an ideal solution to a
    particular problem.

    When allergies bother you, why carry tissue?

     Hay-fever-hat

    When you’re a busy parent and don’t have time to clean, why mop?

    Babymop

    When you’re in the mood for a hot quickee, what you need is a good blow.

    Chopstix Chiller

    Don’t be a slave to fashion, be a salaryman.

    Portable-office-tie

    Here are a few other links to see more of these. (Linkinn.net and Picdit)

    While you are at it, translate your name into Japanese.

    080801 Japanese Translation of Name

  • Japanese Gadget Innovation

    Chindōgu is the Japanese art of inventing ingenious
    everyday gadgets that, on the face of it, seem like an ideal solution to a
    particular problem.

    When allergies bother you, why carry tissue?

     Hay-fever-hat

    When you’re a busy parent and don’t have time to clean, why mop?

    Babymop

    When you’re in the mood for a hot quickee, what you need is a good blow.

    Chopstix Chiller

    Don’t be a slave to fashion, be a salaryman.

    Portable-office-tie

    Here are a few other links to see more of these. (Linkinn.net and Picdit)

    While you are at it, translate your name into Japanese.

    080801 Japanese Translation of Name

  • Snap Shots

    In an effort to make this blog easier to use, I installed a tool called Snap Shots that
    enhances links with visual previews of the destination site, interactive excerpts of Wikipedia
    articles
    , MySpace profiles, IMDb profiles and
    Amazon
    products
    , display inline videos, RSS, MP3s,
    photos, stock charts and
    more.

    Sometimes Snap Shots bring you the information you need, without your having
    to leave the site, while other times it lets you “look ahead,” before deciding
    if you want to follow a link or not.

    Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the
    upper right corner of the Snap Shot and opt-out.

    Hope you like it.

  • Snap Shots

    In an effort to make this blog easier to use, I installed a tool called Snap Shots that
    enhances links with visual previews of the destination site, interactive excerpts of Wikipedia
    articles
    , MySpace profiles, IMDb profiles and
    Amazon
    products
    , display inline videos, RSS, MP3s,
    photos, stock charts and
    more.

    Sometimes Snap Shots bring you the information you need, without your having
    to leave the site, while other times it lets you “look ahead,” before deciding
    if you want to follow a link or not.

    Should you decide this is not for you, just click the Options icon in the
    upper right corner of the Snap Shot and opt-out.

    Hope you like it.