Rock, paper, scissors! These 5 TED Talks play with paper in fresh ways

playlist TEDTalks Beatrice Coron shows off an incredible cape, made out of cut paper, at TED2011. Photo: James Duncan Davidson

Architect Shigeru Ban uses paper tubes to build temporary, ecologically sustainable structures. Shigeru Ban: Emergency shelters made from paperThese geometrically complex structures can be big and impressive — like a concave complex built for Expo 2000 in Germany — or small and functional, like the half-pipe office Ban built for himself atop the Pompadou Center in Paris. No matter their size or shape, these majestic structures make an impact. And in today’s talk, Ban suggests that architecture should focus on things that help society; whether that means building emergency shelters for people in need or creating buildings that can be recycled, leaving behind nothing at all.

Ban may be one of the few major architects in the world making buildings out of paper, but when it comes to transforming paper into something new and revolutionary, he is in good company. Below, talks from TED speakers using paper innovation for art, technology and social change.

And a bonus:

Callie Curry aka Swoon at TEDxBrooklyn
Callie Curry started wheatpasting as a way to take her art out of the classroom and engage with her world. But what began as outdoor art expanded to seagoing rafts, and eventually to homes in post-earthquake Haiti made out of scavenged material. In her TEDxBrooklyn talk, Curry describes the power of repurposing products of destruction into the structures of tomorrow.

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The Great Toilet Paper Debate: Over or Under?

Toilet paper might seem mundane, but upon closer inspection there are far more intricacies than one might imagine. Ever since 1879, the toilet paper roll has been a far more effective method of dispensing sheets than any other form. Of course, the ultimate debate is whether the roll should hang over or under. The ultimate decision is left up to you, but here are some of the benefits and disadvantages of each one.

As it would seem, the vast majority of people utilize the toilet paper that hangs over (coming in at 70%) with organized personality traits. The advantages to this “over” method seem clear compared with having the roll hang “under”. Whichever you choose, this is one of the preferences few people will hold against you.

SEE ALSO: 100 Life Hacks That Make Life Easier

Source: Original source – Over or Under: The Great Toilet Paper Debate

Featured photo credit: Toilet Paper via Shutterstock

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The Real Way to Lose Weight Fast – With Pen and Paper

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When a Paper Planner Can Be Your Best Productivity Tool

There are a lot of elegant tools for your OS and online that help you keep track of all your commitments, projects, tasks, goals, checklists, etc. Each of them have their own set of awesome features as well as their weaknesses.

I remember around a year ago when I was lost in the sea of productivity applications (if you have been there yourself, I totally feel for you). This mostly happened because I would find an app that I would like a lot and then find one or two things that it just couldn’t handle in my workflow. Because of that I played around with a ton of productivity applications and wasted a lot of my time procrastinating on projects.

There is no perfect productivity, todo list, or Getting Things Done application for everyone.

Sorry.

But wait, before you leave and go Google something like “best GTD app -lifehack.org”, I have to tell you that there is one tool that led me to find a productivity application that worked perfect for me.

My travels through the sea of endless list making apps led me back to where I started my journey with productivity and Getting Things Done: pen and paper.

There are a lot of things that paper doesn’t have that digital tools do including ubiquitous search, automated repeats, nesting of tasks, quickly changing lists and due dates, reminders, etc. But it does have one thing over digital tools that makes it one of the best ways to start being productive; unlimited flexibility.

If I want to take a note about a certain task in a digital tool, I have to invoke some sort of option in the system to say that I want to make that note. I type the note, and if the system is good, it will save it automatically. Otherwise I have to tell it to save the note about the task.

With paper and pen, I locate the task and write something near it. Or, hell, even on top of it if I want.

Paper planners work because they are flexible and with that flexibility eventually comes an awareness of how you work your productivity system, not how it works you.

There is nothing to learn really (that is if you aren’t implementing GTD or some other productivity system) and you can start with the tool immediately.

I was so against using paper after using digital tools for a number of years. But what it came down to was that I needed to re-learn how to create and use a system. Paper is awesome for this because it helps you identify precisely what you need (as well as the things you don’t need at all) and helps you concentrate more on organizing and checking things off of your todo lists rather than figure out the exact taxonomy for your project on saving the world.

When you fiddle with your tools you aren’t saving the world, you are fiddling.

As you gain a better understanding of what your tools need to do to facilitate your workflow, you can start to see which digital systems can match that feature specification.

Now that you have figured out what you need in a tool and what you don’t at all need in your productivity system, you can start your search for a digital tool and transition to it. That is if you want to.

I have met a lot of people that are just as, if not more productive with a paper and pen than I am with OmniFocus on my two Macs, iPhone, and iPad. I believe that it has a lot to do with them being very intimate and close with their system, where as a digital tool can feel somewhat sterile and binary.

The easiest way to transition is to start dumping your paper planner’s contents straight into your new tool and set it up relatively close to what already have. If you use a bunch of different lists for each area that you do your work in (contexts) and also a list of all your projects and reference materials, make sure that your desired digital tool can handle it.

Paper may not be the most powerful productivity tool you can get your hands on, but it sure will show you exactly what you need and don’t need in a productivity system to make it work for you.

I spent a good 3 months working with a paper planner through college and a full time job at the same time. It was annoying to have to rewrite things every once in a while, but it made me realize exactly what I needed in a productivity tool and helped me stop spinning my wheels trying to find the perfect digital tool.

Sometimes we have to use the most basic tools, understand how are productivity system is supposed to work, and then make it work with a decent digital tool that fits our needs.

If you are roaming around in the digital todo list and productivity tool jungle, give yourself a break, grab a crappy notebook and start getting some work done.

Chris is a developer, writer, tech enthusiast, and husband. He studies MIS and Computer Science at Penn State Behrend. Chris is also interested in personal productivity and creativity and how to utilize technology to get more things done. Check out his tech writing at androinica.com where he writes about Android.

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Ziszor Portable Handheld Paper Shredder

The perfect handy shreder light-duty home appliance to deal with everyday junk mail and other personal papers that collect daily. The compact size portability and catch bag system let you shred mail wherever you want - kitchen den etc. It s also great for the dressing area for credit card receipts that collect in pockets and purses throughout the day. It s Cordless handheld shredder makes it easy to protect your identity wherever you arehome office or on the road. Lightweight compact and portable this shredder is specifically designed to help you prevent identity theft by shredding mail receipts and other everyday personal papers anywhere any time. Keep it in the kitchen on your dresser next to the computer or in the carwherever you tend to accumulate material. Safely shreds everyday mail that puts your identity at risk Works wherever you open your mail or collect financial receipts kitchen den home officeeven on the road!Completely portable battery operated Unique Slide n Toss disposable catch bag system Includes four (4) AA batteries and three sample catch bagsID theft is fastest growing crime in americaID theft occurs every 3 secondsID theft losses estimated above 50 billion dollars annuallyCurrent recession has stepped up Identity theft activityDumpster diving remains as the simplest and most popular way for thieves to steal your identityYou lock your door you lock you car --- now you need to lock out identity thieves by routinely shredding junk mail and other personal receipts. Get shredding with The Ziszor!Welcome to what WABC radio in New York is calling the Ziszor! Shredding Revolution!!You have just taken a very smart step toward reducing your risk of ID Theft that stems from everyday junk mail and other personal receipts. In this sour economy Identity Theft is on a major upswing and dumpster diving remains as the most popular way for thieves to rob your identity.Due to its compact size and portability the Ziszor! Solves the inconve

Price: $29.99

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Paper Piling, Horizontal Filing, and Other Filing Options

Have you ever noticed that some people have piles of paper all over their office?  If you do not organize by piling, you might be viewing those piles with curiosity, disgust or amazement.  Why would anyone want to be surrounded by piles, especially “dysfunctional” piles of paper that take up whole sections of their office floor?

After many rounds of pile busting for my clients, I have learned that many ‘pilers’ share certain characteristics:

they are visually oriented and worry that if papers are out of sight, they will be out of mind;they prefer to organize horizontally; instead of vertically (traditional filing);they have difficulty throwing papers away because they are afraid they will either make a mistake or miss an opportunity;they have difficulty making decisions because they tend to try to consider all the possibilities for use of the papers;they are easily overwhelmed by paper; once they get even a little behind on paper management they shut down and stop dealing with it;they really do not know how set up more effective systems for effectively dealing with paper.

What to do? Of course, one option is to continue using piles of paper to track projects in progress. But you’ll want to make sure they are functional piles– ones that contain papers pertaining to just one subject or project.

Other options to avoid piling:

Make a commitment to MAKE A DECISION about what to do with paper the first time you touch it.  1) Is it an action item? 2) Should it be filed? 3) Should it be routed to someone else? 4) Is it trash? 5) Is it something to read? 6) Or, is it something you are undecided about?  Create easy to reach places for each of those types of items.  Then, put it in the appropriate place.Make a commitment  to STOP SETTING PAPER ASIDE for any reason.Use a step sorter on your desk to make files visible.  Have those files contain active projects or documents and forms you use frequently.  Be sure to label the files in dark ink.  Or, better yet, use a label maker (available at office supply stores for about $50).Use an open filing cabinet (available on wheels), desktop filing box, or crate so that you can continue to enjoy a horizontal format, but have the benefits of a vertical filing system.

Why learn how to become a functional piler?

You’ll be able to lay your hands on papers you need much more quickly. You can’t quickly find papers in a dysfunctional pile (one that contains papers pertaining to many different types of subjects or activities).Your space will feel much more peaceful. Dysfunctional piles are very noisy. Since everything is alive with energy, every piece of paper has a different type of energy. Put them all together and you have a screaming crowd. Compared to a pile of just one type of paper, e.g. tax related papers, a mixed pile is a jumble of energy that you’ll tend to avoid. If you have a number of dysfunctional piles in the same room, you’re likely to feel overwhelmed by the riot of energy and the visibility of so much paper.You’ll feel more competent and less anxious about dealing with paper. A room filled with paper piles seems to scream, “You slob! Do you really know what you’re doing?” or “You really are behind. Why aren’t you doing something about this mess?” Papers sorted into piles by category or filed away in a step sorter or open filing system have an orderly and affirming energy that is much quieter and calmer than mixed piles with no specific identities.

If you are a piler, commit to learning more effective ways to keep your papers visible and accessible while reducing the negative energy that emanates from multiple piles. Two functional piles are much quieter than two mixed piles. An open filing system is quieter than any piling system. Remember, there are options available that will meet your need for visibility and will help you retrieve the papers you need in seconds. Make the time to organize your piles into a system that really works for you.

My passion is helping people discover the profound impact that environment has on performance. I want people to know they can change their lives by changing the spaces in which they live and work. Check out my blog, http://www.rockscissorspaperinstitute.com/blog, or my book, Rock Scissors Paper: Understanding How Environment Affects Your Performance on a Daily Basis at www.RockScissorsPaperInstitute.com/book.

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Conquer the Paper Challenge! Process Paper Daily!

Some of you are thinking, “Duh! I already do that. Doesn’t everbody?” And others of you are going, “Ewww, I’d rather die! It’s overwhelming! It’s boring!”

For those of you who already have the good habit of corralling and processing paper daily, keep up the good work! Being conscious of the daily flow of paper and deliberately controlling its flow is the only way to win the war on paper.

A casual approach to paper is a guarantee that you’ll create your own personal paper nightmare. Paper is relentless in its flow into your space. You need to be relentless in your handling of it. Do it daily! It really only takes minutes! Minutes of agony or boredom are better than the hours and hours of excavation that will be required if you procrastinate and let paper accumulate.

Here’s what I mean by PROCESS PAPER DAILY:

Make sure paper follows a specific route, a paper path.

Paper should not float from room to room. When paper comes into the house, make sure it lands in one spot to be sorted into categories instead of allowing it to land in any one of a number of different locations. If you decide the kitchen counter is that spot, make sure everyone in your family knows that mail always lands on the kitchen counter.After being sorted, make sure the different categories of paper are immediately moved to their next logical location. Bills, for example, would go to the bill paying area. Once the bills are paid, the paper associated with them would then be filed or pitched. So, the paper path for a bill would be: from the mailbox to the kitchen counter; from the kitchen counter to the desk of the home office where the bill is paid; from the desk to the filing cabinet. It’s important to create paper paths for every category of paper you regularly handle.To simplify this process, consider having all paper move from its sorting location to a home office where the different categories can be processed and stored if necessary. That way the path would be: from the mailbox to the kitchen counter for sorting; from the kitchen counter to the home office desktop for review and action; from the the desktop to the filing cabinet or the recycle bin.Making papers follow specific paths puts you in charge of paper instead of feeling at the mercy of paper. Your work is to determine the paths and to discipline yourself to make paper follow those paths every time. Just one lapse in maintaining your new paper system can cause paper to spiral out of control. Remember, digging out takes much more time and energy than maintaining paper paths! It will take over if you let it stray from a defined route.

Sort incoming papers into categories. I recommend these categories: trash; refer out to someone else; action; filing; reading; holding for later reference or action; and possibilities of things to do, buy, etc. It’s best to separate the action category into bills and other actions. That way you are less likely to lose sight of your bills.

Distribute papers by category to their appropriate locations. For example, trash goes to the recycling bin or trash can. Action papers are moved to the desk or countertop where action will take place. Filing is either filed or stored in a filing tray until you make time to file. Reading is taken to the location where you do your reading, perhaps a basket on your desk or next to the sofa.

You’ll notice I don’t recommend that you complete all the tasks associated with those papers on a daily basis. That would take more time than you have every day. I am just recommending that you control the flow of paper coming in, sort it and distribute it to the place where it will be acted upon or stored. If you do that much paper processing every day, you will find your stress goes down and your productivity goes up. You’ll be in charge of paper instead of feeling at the mercy of it!

My passion is helping people discover the profound impact that environment has on performance. I want people to know they can change their lives by changing the spaces in which they live and work. Check out my blog, http://www.rockscissorspaperinstitute.com/blog, or my book, Rock Scissors Paper: Understanding How Environment Affects Your Performance on a Daily Basis at www.RockScissorsPaperInstitute.com/book.

View the original article here

Ziszor Portable Handheld Paper Shredder

The perfect handy shreder light-duty home appliance to deal with everyday junk mail and other personal papers that collect daily. The compact size portability and catch bag system let you shred mail wherever you want - kitchen den etc. It s also great for the dressing area for credit card receipts that collect in pockets and purses throughout the day. It s Cordless handheld shredder makes it easy to protect your identity wherever you arehome office or on the road. Lightweight compact and portable this shredder is specifically designed to help you prevent identity theft by shredding mail receipts and other everyday personal papers anywhere any time. Keep it in the kitchen on your dresser next to the computer or in the carwherever you tend to accumulate material. Safely shreds everyday mail that puts your identity at risk Works wherever you open your mail or collect financial receipts kitchen den home officeeven on the road!Completely portable battery operated Unique Slide n Toss disposable catch bag system Includes four (4) AA batteries and three sample catch bagsID theft is fastest growing crime in americaID theft occurs every 3 secondsID theft losses estimated above 50 billion dollars annuallyCurrent recession has stepped up Identity theft activityDumpster diving remains as the simplest and most popular way for thieves to steal your identityYou lock your door you lock you car --- now you need to lock out identity thieves by routinely shredding junk mail and other personal receipts. Get shredding with The Ziszor!Welcome to what WABC radio in New York is calling the Ziszor! Shredding Revolution!!You have just taken a very smart step toward reducing your risk of ID Theft that stems from everyday junk mail and other personal receipts. In this sour economy Identity Theft is on a major upswing and dumpster diving remains as the most popular way for thieves to rob your identity.Due to its compact size and portability the Ziszor! Solves the inconve

Price: $29.99

Click here to buy from Amazon