Information Overload Is a Filter Problem by Stephen E. Arnold

"The final issue I have is that I don’t have an answer to this question: “When I don’t know what I need to answer my question, what do I filter in and out?”

Using “R&D” Projects to Stop Information Overload by Andre Kibbe

1-Sentence Summary*

Anyone afflicted with information overload is preoccupied with information’s value rather than its relevance.

But when you’re engaged in a research project, begin with the end in mind and ask yourself from moment to moment, “What problem am I trying to solve?”, and confine yourself to looking up information that solves your immediate problem.

 

I may add that equally important is to evaluate your progress along the way. If you can review your goals systematically you’re that much better off. It boils down to keeping your objectives sharply focused in your mind and constantly prioritizing your information needs.  

 * 1-Sentence Summary is done using Context Organizer.

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 The Myth of Information Overload By: Vaughan Merlyn

 "There’s something about the term “information overload” that puts the cart before the horse…  If you think of the problem as information overload you might look for a solution that cuts back on the information, and that would be a crime!"

 There is no information overload but rather there is information wealth.

 1-Sentence Summary*

"What Productivity Studies Really Show" By Gina Trapani

1-Sentence Summary*

"The longer I do this, the more I suspect that a good part of the "information overload" story is a myth cooked up by folks who don’t know how to use the internet well in order to demonize something they don’t understand."

It is commonly accepted that so called information overload ruins our life and seems to be a contagious malady. To save ourselves we should compartmentalize our time and attention by following favorite time and information management techniques.

However, since technology produces information abundantly, certainly we could better use smart applications that help us with filtering, spotlighting and contextualizing information that we are interested in.

Wealth of information is an asset not an impediment. Too much effort and attention is given to studying the so called negative impact of information wealth and not enough attention is spend on technologies capable to intelligently mine the information wealth.

Productivity is a very personal issue and with a bit of ingenuity each of us can take advantage of information wealth…

 * 1-Sentence Summary is done using Context Organizer 

 "Google De-Automates Addition of Gmail Contacts" By: Thomas Claburn

1-Sentence Summary*

In truth, Google’s decision to change the way Gmail gathers contacts isn’t so much a repudiation of automation as an acknowledgment that automation must be balanced by human oversight.

By far having Suggested Contacts where Gmail puts its auto-created addresses gives users back the control over their address book. By default, Suggested Contacts that you email regularly are automatically added to My Contacts. And if you do not like this automated step you can still choose to disable usage-based addition of contacts to My Contacts. Once you do this, no matter how many times you email an auto-added email address it won’t be moved to My Contacts.

With these changes it will be much easier to clean up the address book and make it organized and functional. This is yet another step towards reducing information overload.

* 1-Sentence Summary is done using Context Organizer

 "Information overload solutions from a conference dedicated to the topic" By: Jared Goralnick

I’m overwhelmed with ideas from the Information Overload conference this week.  In an effort to reflect, I’ve listed some of the major stats and themes discussed for managing too much stuff.

"How to Deal with Information Overload: Part I"  by: Damon Hedman

1-Sentence Summary*

 "There is more information online than any one person can ever consume, and it’s only going to get worse."

Damon rightly points out that whenever we search for information we find far too many links and that makes our choices difficult. His sensible advice is: “Only read information that is relevant to the problem at hand.” Isn’t this the goal and ambition of all Internet users?

 * 1-Sentence Summary is done using Context Organizer

"The Writing Organization: Knowledge Management Made Easy" By: Tim Leberecht 

1-Sentence Summary*

Depending on their role, employees can blog about customer experiences, sales tactics, strategy, product improvements, organizational design, competitors, market trends, and even gossip."

Isn’t this obvious? And yet this common sense advice is seldom practiced… I wish that every organization acts on Tim Lebrecht’s advice. 

"Too Much Information!" by Tom Valovic 

1-Sentence Summary*

 "As a high-tech magazine editor, then analyst, and now editor again, I’ve thought long and hard over the years about the problem of how IT managers or anyone who needs to keep track and make sense of a fast-moving emerging technology can optimally do that."

 The “Great Information Hunt” is a witty phrase used by Tom Valovic to describe challenges we face with too much information, too many articles to read, and I may add too many meetings to attend. One way to negotiate the computer power is to apply some common sense in choosing information sources.

A focused approach is to wear the blinkers and give attention to narrow range of topics. But then there is the nagging issue of not knowing what we are missing when we dedicate ourselves to exactingly specialized conversations. Is there a happy medium?  

* 1-Sentence Summary is done using Context Organizer.

"Information Overload" by Brendan 

 1-Sentence Summary*

 "The amount of information that flows through a web savvy person’s brain these days is staggering when you take a step back and observe."

As Brendan notices the joy of blogging has been greatly challenged because of the sheer information volume that we feel we should review before posting.

It is not hard to agree with him on this point. However, somehow we should be able to find a way to blog without being overburdened.

Perhaps a way to approach it is to be somewhat lighthearted…and also knowing that readers rather prefer short and common sense writing over longer essays. 

* The 1-Sentence Summary is done using Context Organizer.