Spring cleaning time - making room for new activities

The Spring is very worky time for me. I'm not talking about casual house cleaning (I used to do it fast), but mainly about my work context. It's time to finish started projects and make room for new ones and for incoming summer activities. Weather in May is really nice in my place - so I devote some time to biking and long walks. I really didn't want to start another tasks, like writing blog posts about something abstract enough (I still have "blog vs privacy" issues). So please forgive me for long break without posts.

I'm thinking also about blog character- it's now mixed personal/technical blog. I like reading entertaining personal blogs, but that is not a point. It seems people like more specialized thematic blogs, so maybe I should go that way. I don't want to fight for readership with every possible mean, but more viewers means more potential interesting contacts for me.

Yes, I'm talking about you dear reader. So if you are interested in my subjects, or have an project/business idea write me itprolife@gmail.com.

I'm inviting commenters too.

Winter time - stress test for traffic congestion and car condition

During winter I witnessed many traffic jam or just slow traffic problems. Driving takes sometimes 4 times longer than in average conditions. Sometimes slowing down below some level in just few critical points is enough to clog up the roads in the whole city. I see some similarities with IT systems during stress load.

Making new roads is not real life solution for "fix it now" traffic situations. More appropriate is holistic analysis of the system performance and system tuning, like smart adjusting traffic lights to actual congestion etc. Some car drivers are responsible and try to help everybody moving in. But most of cars are moving like flowing water stream, filling every empty space in shortest time. So kind of central traffic steering makes sense, and is subject of scientific research and real life implementations.

Another situation. I haven't problems with my car during winter till -10 centigrades. But few more freezing days made little inefficiencies in car systems stack up and disabled my car for few days. Something like total performance degradation in IT system while stress test.

It's good to have backup plan for more harsh "freezy" days.

Calendar reminds me of plans for the future

End of year is good moment to rethink what happened through past months, and redefine some goals for the future.

Christmas and weekend days off, make good opportunity to take some time to think about it (besides family time and partying with friends).

I'm finishing older projects so there will be time share for new ideas. I'm doing some research and trials in Trading Systems, and I'm going to continue that. There is some place for personal development too.

I will be looking also for ideas for something more sustainable like startup project that could survive. It should be interesting. And fun.

Fantasy Kommander - tactical turn based Flash game

It's a games genre I like: tactical decisions with a bit of strategical planning. Isometric look at the battlefield reminds me graphics from XCOM U.F.O series, but placed in medieval times with typical fantasy races like goblins, dwarfs and elves. You can buy new units every unit has a lot of stats and characteristics that could be upgraded with game money. Turn based engine is simple- your move then opponents move. Units movements are animated and the whole game looks nice. Units could take counterattack also during defence phase. Battles look more simple that description. The best tactic is old "circle around and attack from behind". Many levels are very time (turns limit) constrained that makes playing even more fun.

I have found Fantasy Kommander title at the Kongregate, but it could be hosted at other sites too.

Build your army and go for the victory!

Long break and back to work

It was long time ago from last post. I had real "without thinking about work" vacation. Mostly cycling and resting with family in small house near lake shore. I've been using Internet mostly for communication and weather forecasts. After back to work I had to catch up to meet approaching deadlines. So sorry about not giving any signs of life for a long time.

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I want to get in touch with my loyal readers, so please share with me some information about your interests and suggestions about this blog.

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Time is the simplest thing - what is the cost of leisure time

First and basic rule: our personal time is scarce resource.

I realized that I'm playing in one of online games way too long- it took me about half an hour per day. Despite of fact that at the beginning it was really fun and now its sort of social experiment with gaming background, it's just leisure time. Everybody needs some relax but I felt guilt for not using my time in more productive way.

I've quickly calculated my often used average wage per working hour and applied that to time saved by dropping some of my leisure time. That's the coarse result that says something about earning more money instead of spending time in other unproductive way. But reality is more complicated than that simple model. There are other factors that should be also considered:

• conversion of free time into work time is a must (what if freed time will be used in another way?)
• extra costs of additional work
• demand for our work services (supply and demand effect) could change our price
• costs of shortened leisure time (too much work without rest could cause bad results, like burnout)
• effect on life goals

As a result, limited time forced me into thinking about balancing life activities. Sometimes money is not enough to sacrifice more personal time for work.

What are your way of dealing with that kind of situations? What is your time worth? Any tips for balancing work, leisure, family time?

Spring break

In April I broke my weekly posting schedule. Don't panic - it's only a break! Taking few days off at Easter time, spring cleanup and regeneration, and then back to heavy work when one of the clients backfires with new features request - I lost attention for some of my routine task. At least we have nice spring, that makes me feel better (my bike is ready - now it's time for me).

I've checked readership statistics and unsurprisingly it dropped by about 30%. It only confirms that people (or bots) are looking for fresh content.

I want to thank to all my readers, the very specific ones that not get bored easily reading this stuff. It is the last thing that keeps me writing.

More feedback is appreciated - so leave your comments.

Minor health problems - work is not everything

I caught a cold and get some stomatological problems. I was unable to make more complex tasks for a longer time, I just needed a rest. That focused me on myself and my health shape. Sitting in the front of computer doesn't make me fit and healthy.

My RescueTime report states efficiency score:

EFFICIENCY 1.58 for 28h 39m
AVG. USER EFFICIENCY 0.53 for 9h 27m


Maybe I have wrong RT settings, or my development and personal productivity categories kick in, as I spend a lot of time working. Maybe too much time.

Good SF book - Permutation City by Greg Egan

I have finished reading Greg Egan's "Permutation City" novel published in 1994. It's full of interesting ideas I liked or worked on in some way in past. You can find there consciousness simulation, AI living in VR, and other theories like cellular automatas and artificial evolution. The novel story is based on many fictional and unrealistic assumptions but the whole idea of creating computed simulation of an embedded then detached universe is very mind appealing.

The first kind of ideas in scientific world came from Konrad Zuse that proposed idea of universe computed on a computer grid. It's very strong paradigm shift of viewing our universe. Taking quantun effects and last popped popular theories like holographic principle, give me very strange feeling.

At the end read a xkcd comic with a twisted idea

Update:
Another research covering that area. Check the controversial but interesting theory by Stephen Wolfram.

Happy New Year 2009!

Begin of the year is the magic time of new commitments and promises.

I'm going to fulfill my professional goals and having more fun in life, doing that in a healthy way.

Greetings.

Work now, fun later

Next busy week.

Last fixes for next version of product I am working on few years already.

On the second hand another project - business trip with prototype presentation.

Meanwhile at home - planning and research for building custom HTPC. I will publish later more details about hardware configuration.

All important work tasks should be finished before end of this year, then I will play with my HTPC.

Finished summer (and computer) break

I am back. At the computer and broadband internet.

Some break was needed for mind rest. I feel slightly changed my point of view.

It's time to get back to work. I have to check email and all online services I use.

Back on track - but I feel urge for some improvement.

Driving with GPS navigation makes me stupid

For long distance journeys through unknown roads I use GPS navigation software running on old Pocket PC. Directions given by automate navigator are so precise that you can drive all way even without looking at road signs. And this is the worst part.
At the beginning I felt very confident. When navigation was turned on my natural navigation skills gone away. It felt like some kind of brain damage effect. Part of my thinking was turned off in exchange for blindly listening to navigator instructions. Imagine what is going on when map is not actual or has some glitches. "where is that road it is talking about?". The result is often big surprise and embarrassment.
Its scarry when machine can make you fool and put into potentially dangerous situation on the road. After that experiences I always check my route on map before journey, observe road signs, and listen to navigator as the last resort to ensure that I am right.
I feel much better that way.

Illness and days without (almost) computer

I had no prepared post for that week. I get ill and I have to stay in bed. For past few days the best thing I was being able to do was sleeping. I'm trying to reduce time while lying in the bed with laptop on my belly, so now is moment I can write anyghing.

Such a pity that during good weather I have to stay at home.

Summer is coming

It's really hot for last few days - real summer weather. I'm often going out for outdoor activities.

I'm finishing production stage of one of bigger projects I'm working now. I'm thinking about summer time and resting in some nice place.

Price of gas is arising, but I'm planning only one long distance trip. For other destinations I'm going to visit some places near by, maybe do some biking.

Anyway- my home computer is more turned off, and my new projects are going on the shelf for some time.

Not too much sports

I'm after weekend bike trip. I had such muscle aches I could barely sleep. Definitely I have to to do something with my fitness.

It's hard for me to schedule such activities as these trips, but I'm thinking about another kind of sport activities. Maybe jogging- it takes less time and is more exhausting.

Maybe I should think about some in home gear like walking treadmill or fitness bike.

Do you have any good ideas how to make work together keyboard time, some kind of sport and dense deadlines?

Sleeptracker - gadget for sleep optimizers

In last month I get new gadget- Sleeptracker Pro alarm watch.
Short description how it works from original website:


SLEEPTRACKER® continuously monitors signals from your body that indicate whether you are asleep or awake. Because you wear SLEEPTRACKER® on your wrist like a watch, its internal sensors can detect even the most subtle physical signals from your body. SLEEPTRACKER® finds your best waking moments, so that waking up has never been easier.


Manufacturer created positive buzz amongst community. I have read so many positive reviews that even price tag (about 180$ in US for Pro model) doesn't stopped me out of buying it.

Some remarks about alarm clock features:
- clock with date on quite big display
- one alarm time
- sound and/or vibration alarm (sound and vibration may be too silent for very hard sleepers!)
- back light is nice
- can be worn as casual watch, but can be too bulky for some people

Because it's not normal alarm clock there are additional outcomes:
1) It wakes you in the moment (within set time window) you are better prepared to wake up, so you feel better
It generally "feels" true or it's hard to say without comparing statistics with and without Sleeptracker

2) It is shortening your sleeping time by about 15-30 minutes (it depends on sleep schedule) without negative consequences.
It's strong dependable on sleeping schedule and works best for unoptimized sleep with waking time in the middle of sleep cycle. On the other way every day sleep patterns may vary a little so monitoring device it's catching actual cycles. For me alarm clock sets up between 0 and 40 minutes before usual waking time.

3) It records R.E.M. activity during night, so data can be collected and analyzed to improve sleep habits.
Sleep data can be reviewed on watch or Sleeptracker Pro has USB port to transfer data to computer.




There are important rules I figured out that should be considered before buying that stuff:
- Sleeptracker will not work for you if you don't have enough sleep or have heavy sleep disorders
- alarm sound is silent so get enough of sleep to be ready top wake up in the morning
- it did not worked for my polyphasic sleep schedule (look at get enough sleep point)
- watch is worn on wrist, so if you place your arm under pillow or in other position that could block arm movement, Sleeptracker won't record R.E.M. phase due to lack of movements
- it may won't work for people who don't move their arms at during R.E.M. cycle (it's hard to check but it's possible)
- have I told that you should get enough sleep?

Sleeptracker Pro package contains USB cable, printed manual and little CD with software for windows. Interesting solution is used for connecting USB cable to watch. Cable ends with clip that have 3 springing pins matching connector on the backside of watch. I didn't mentioned the watch is waterproof!.

Sleeptracker software is used for transfer sleep data from watch and tracking that data with a day events like drinking coffee or alcohol, sleeping light and temperature conditions etc. I tried to run that software under WINE on Linux, but USB data transfer did not work.

So I tried to find another solution. I found the PERL script to get data from USB cable on sleeptracker forum. I found two version of script with bugs or unimplemented features so I integrated both to get one better. Instead of desktop software it can store data as text or xml files. The next nice feature of script is export to web version of Sleeptracker software at http://www.sleeptracker.net/. I'm still collecting data so later I report my findings.

Below is mentioned PERL script:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w

# This program downloads records from your Sleeptracker Pro
# and displays them as text, xml, or csv
#
# Sleeptracker and Sleeptracker Pro are trademarks of
#
# Innovative Sleep Solutions
# 2870 Peachtree Road #140
# Atlanta, GA 30305
#
# This program is NOT developed or supported by Innovative Sleep Solutions
#
# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
#
# You can purchase your Sleeptracker or Sleeptracker Pro from:
#
# http://www.sleeptracker.com
# http://www.sleeptracker.de
# http://www.sleeptracker.fr
# ... and some other stores
#

# Chagelog:
# --------------
# 09.12.2007: fixed bug in xml output tag
# 10.12.2007: fixed wrong cecksum calculation
# 11.12.2007: added browser output
# 13.12.2007: fixed seconds from DataA
# 14.12.2007: fixex wrong eff.alarm time, when no alert in window
#
#
#


use Device::SerialPort;
use Time::Local;
use strict;


my $browser="firefox"; # which browser to call
my $uploadURL="http://www.sleeptracker.net/import.php"; # which upload URL to call

my $numArgs = $#ARGV + 1;
my $ttyPath="";
my $format="browser"; #set default

if($numArgs > 1){
$format=$ARGV[0];
$ttyPath=$ARGV[1];
} elsif ($numArgs == 1){
$ttyPath=$ARGV[0];
} else {
help();
exit 1;
}

if (not -w $ttyPath) {
print STDERR "Can't access Sleeptracker at device '$ttyPath'\n";
exit 1;
}

print STDERR "Reading Sleeptracker data from $ttyPath\n\n";

my $serial = Device::SerialPort->new("$ttyPath");
$serial->baudrate(2400);
$serial->databits(8);
$serial->purge_all();
$serial->rts_active(0);
$serial->dtr_active(1);
# Send request
$serial->write("V");
# Wait one second
select(undef, undef, undef, 1);
# Read response
my($count, $data) = $serial->read(250); # goog for more than 70 awake moments

if($count<15){
print STDERR "Error while reading from Sleeptracker!\nWatch showing DATA screen?\n";
exit 1;
}

my @stBytes=();
my $cnt=0;
my $crc=0;
foreach my $byu (split (//, $data)) {
$cnt++;
# for debug
#printf "%03d: %02x = %d \n",$cnt,ord($byu),ord($byu);
push @stBytes,ord($byu);
if($cnt>1 && $cnt<$count-1){
$crc+=ord($byu);
}
}
#printf "%x=%d\n\n",$crc,$crc;
$crc=$crc%256;

# compare checksum
if($crc!=$stBytes[$count-2]){
print STDERR "Checksum Error while reading. $crc!=$stBytes[$count-2]";
exit 1;
}


# calculations and data formating

my $pos=1;

my (undef,undef,undef,$mday,$mon,$year,undef,undef,undef)=localtime();
my $jahr=$year+1900;
my $monat=$mon+1;
my $tag=$mday;

my $stTag=$stBytes[$pos+1];
my $stMonat=$stBytes[$pos+0];
my $stJahr=$jahr;

if($stMonat>$monat || ($stMonat==$monat && $stTag>$tag) ){
$stJahr=$jahr-1;
}

my $datum = sprintf "%02d.%02d.%4d",$stTag,$stMonat,$stJahr;
$pos+=2;

#$unknown=$stBytes[$pos];
$pos+=1;

my $window = sprintf "%2d",$stBytes[$pos];
$pos+=1;

my $toBed= sprintf "%02d:%02d",$stBytes[$pos+0],$stBytes[$pos+1];
my $toBedTS = timelocal(0,$stBytes[$pos+1],$stBytes[$pos],$tag,$monat-1,$jahr);
$pos+=2;

my $alarm =sprintf "%02d:%02d",$stBytes[$pos],$stBytes[$pos+1];
my $alarmTS=timelocal(0,$stBytes[$pos+1],$stBytes[$pos],$tag,$monat-1,$jahr);
$pos+=2;

my $cntData=$stBytes[$pos];
$pos+=1;

my @almostAwake=();
my @almostAwakePst=();

my $lastAwake=$toBedTS;
my $thisAwake=$lastAwake;
my $alltimes="";
for(my $i=0;$i<$cntData;$i++){
my $aaw=sprintf "%02d:%02d:%02d", $stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+0],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+1],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+2];
my $aawShort=sprintf "%02d:%02d", $stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+0],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+1];
$alltimes.=$aawShort.",";
push @almostAwake,$aaw;
$thisAwake = timelocal($stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+2],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+1],$stBytes[$pos+($i*3)+0],$tag,$monat-1,$jahr);
if($thisAwake<$lastAwake){
$thisAwake+=(24*60*60); # day has changed
}
my $slept=sprintf "%d",($thisAwake-$lastAwake)/60;
$lastAwake=$thisAwake;
push @almostAwakePst, $slept; #period sleeping time in sec
}
$pos+=($cntData*3);

if($thisAwake<$toBedTS){
$thisAwake+=(24*60*60); # day has changed
}

my $getUp=$almostAwake[@almostAwake-1];

# when the last awake moment was outside the window, the alert goes off at alarm time
if($lastAwake<$alarmTS-$window){
$getUp="$alarm:00";
}

my $dataAVal=($stBytes[$pos+1]*0xff)+$stBytes[$pos];
my $dataASec=$dataAVal%60;
#my $dataA=sprintf "%d:%2d",(($dataAVal-$dataASec)/60),$dataASec ;
#my $dataACalc=sprintf "%d:%2d",(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)/60,(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)%60;
my $dataA=sprintf "%d:%02d",(($dataAVal-$dataASec)/60),$dataASec ;
my $dataACalc=sprintf "%d:%02d",(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)/60,(($thisAwake-$toBedTS)/$cntData)%60;


# output Browser
if($format eq "browser"){
my $URLParam=sprintf "a=%s&w=%s&t=%s&dt=%s&da=%s",$alarm,$window,$toBed,$alltimes,$dataA;
my $callFirefox=sprintf "%s \"%s?%s\" &",$browser,$uploadURL,$URLParam;
print "\n";
print $callFirefox;
print "\n";
my $ret=system($callFirefox);
}

# output Text
if($format eq "text"){
print "Date: $datum\n";
print "To Bed: $toBed\n";
print "Alarm Time: $alarm\n";
printf "Effective Alarm Time: %s\n",$getUp;
print "Window: $window min\n";
print "Data A (Clock): $dataA min\n";
print "Data A (Calculated): $dataACalc min\n\n";

print "Awake moments ($cntData): \n";

my $aawCnt=0;
foreach my $awm (@almostAwake) {
printf " Data %2d: %s (slept: %3d min)\n",$aawCnt+1,$awm,$almostAwakePst[$aawCnt];
$aawCnt++;
}
print "\n";
}

# output CSV
if($format eq "csv"){
printf "%s;%s;%s;%s;%s;%s;%s;%s",$datum,$toBed,$alarm,$getUp,$window,$dataA,$dataACalc,$cntData;
my $aawCnt=0;
foreach my $awm (@almostAwake) {
printf ";%s",$awm;
$aawCnt++;
}
print ";\n";
}

# output XML
if($format eq "xml"){
print "\n";
print " $toBed\n";
print " $alarm\n";
printf " %s\n",$getUp;
print " $window\n";
print " $dataA\n";
print " \n";

my $aawCnt=0;
foreach my $awm (@almostAwake) {
printf " %s\n",$aawCnt+1,$awm,$almostAwakePst[$aawCnt];
$aawCnt++;
}
print " \n";
print "\n";
}



sub help {
print STDERR "Usage: sleeptracker [format] device\n";
print STDERR "format: browser(default), text, csv, xml\n";
}


Polyphasic sleep - sleeping less and better? - Not really

I finished my polyphasic sleep experiment. I just couldn't catch up enough sleep in proper period. Kid wakes me up twice per night - so it's hard to maintain core 4.5 hour sleep block. It was very hard to get up and you can imagine the rest of the story. I guess that my overall "time and productivity" ratio decreased. I lost my dream memory too- it's an early sign of sleep deprivation for me.

So I decided to break it and gain more rest from my classic 6 hours sleep schedule, plus occasional power nap at late afternoon. After about two weeks of adaptation I feel like I had never changed my sleep habits. I feel more rested now, so probably it was good move.

The most important lesson I learned during that experiment:
Shortened sleep time needs maxed out rest results during sleep. Taking naps with regular schedule and doing it in comfortable way (comfy place, silence and darkness) is a must.

Maybe next time when I could organize my bed time without interruptions, I will try polyphasic schedule again. Besides, I'm still working on improving my sleep habits.

Digitize your life

Everyday I try to organize my life using mix of paper and electronic means. Sometimes workflow between different areas is seamless, but in most cases I finish up with nothing more that little scrap of papers and information bits. All data is scattered across dispersed information islands. I have to be very fast to visit them all.

Have you heard about MyLifeBits project? It's based on an MEMEX idea of ubiquitous personal information storage. It may include pictures of what you are seeing, sound you are hearing, coordinates of your current position, trail for your electronic activity like emails, phone logs etc. All data is interconnected, tagged and ready for text searching. It's compelling idea but more important are practical applications. The whole stored information may be used as a kind of human memory extension. For successful usage I think it's needed to invent more powerful tools helping seamlessly storing and automatically retrieving important for as bits of information.

Drawing of Bush's theoretical Memex machine (Life Magazine, November 19, 1945),
picture posted by p373
Some rights reserved.

I need now only small part of that information, and probably make simple home brew personal information workflow system using pack of separate gadgets like cellphone with camera with GPS and some software. What is it for? I'm not sure yet, but maybe it's worth to try something like that to use it in future. And again another question - what today information will be worth in future after next 10 years?

I'm going back to figure out how to connect online calendar software with one on my cellphone.