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My coworkers will often ask me for assistance or give me an assignment when Im already busy doing something else. Its awkward to tell them that Im too busy, and by the time I get a chance to do that, its too late theyve already distracted me from my other task.
This could be avoided with
a CPU Usage Tie and Tie Clip (see link). With a single glance at my tie, anyone would be able to see how busy my brain is. If its moderately busy, they would know to ask me only simple questions or give me easy tasks to do; if they see that my brain is nearly full they would know not to bother me. All I would have to do is move the tie clip whenever my available mental capacity changes.
(?) Illustration
http://www.geocitie...gn/CPUUsageTie.html [AO, Oct 04 2004]
Might look natty with...
http://www.halfbake...ning-on-empty_20hat The running on empty hat [Fishrat, Oct 04 2004]
High visibility brain use indicator.
http://www.unitedme...lbert-20040315.html Dilbert wears it. [ldischler, Oct 04 2004]
[link]
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The problem I see is that they have to get into a position where they can see your tie. That would, under many circustances (say sitting at a desk), distract you at least as much as telling them you are busy. |
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Ive arranged my workspace so that people can stand to the side and in front of me as Im sitting at my desk. From that vantage point they can see my tie. |
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If people can only approach you from behind, you may want drape your tie over your shoulder. |
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(finishes work, adjusts tie to zero)
(realizes concentration involved in adjusting tie, adjusts to 5%)
(realizes thinking about adjusting while adjusting tie requires more concentration, adjusts to 10%)
(finishes adjusting tie, adjusts to zero)
(repeat)
Damn background processes. |
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I am fairly sure your head gets hotter as you think harder (mine does anyway). How about wearing a heat sensitive tie around your head like a bandana. Your colleagues will be able to tell at a distance when you are feverish from work (or disease). In either case they are guaranteed to give you a wide berth. |
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Gets hotter as we think harder about whom...? |
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Fortunately, the overall state of the brain is one thing we can measure with a couple of electrodes: |
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mostly alpha waves (9-14 Hz) = not thinking = 0% cpu
mostly beta waves (15-40 Hz) = thinking = 100% cpu |
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I need one of these ties. |
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If people are too persistent tighten that tie and show them the blue-screen-of-death, right on your face. |
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I'd wear one, even though girls wearing ties always gets strange looks... |
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The beauty of such ties, if baked, is that they can only tell whether - not what - you are thinking. Get paid to formulate HB ideas. |
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//girls wearing ties always gets strange looks// |
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Why, what else are you wearing? |
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// The problem I see is that they have to get into a position where they can see your tie // |
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Tie it around your head, rambo style. That way everyone can see it, and the electrodes can be built-in. Of course I'm now getting dangerously close to a 'thinking cap' type device (with lightbulb on top), which doesn't really have the professional image of a simple neck tie gauge. |
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This needs an over ride, a switch to 90% thought process for when the boss arrives and you are day dreaming, or the hopeless fool asks you how to do something that you have explained several times a day for a week. |
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//Tie it around your head, rambo style.// |
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Thanks [benjamin], I have seen the light. Pastries all around. |
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I can't think about this right now. My brain is all tied up. + |
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Theres an extra-short version for people who dont have much brain capacity to start out with. (Not for anyone here of course.) |
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I like this... especially the automatic electrode version. |
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That really is a lovely tie. Straight out of the 80's. The only problem I see is remembering to adjust the levels after each task. I can just see people hitching their tie pins up to their chins every time the manager walks around. |
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For the bow-tie wearers among us (?), the tie could be made to rotate at speeds depending on brain load. The added advantage being that under extreme stress of cerebral activity it might double as a cooling fan. |
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This tie idea could be a great deal more proactive, through the attchment of a small electric shocking device attached to the elbow or something. When CPU usage dropped below, say, 80 percent then a zap would prompt the worker to work harder. |
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[phauna] - I reckon it should zap the boss instead; after all, encouraging productivity is the boss' responsibility. |
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Perhaps your tie could bend up like Dilberts. The more bending, the more brain use. For really heavy-duty cognition, it could flutter over your shoulder, adding to the visibility. |
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[UnaBubba] - Don't knock them hypercolor shirts!
For a long time my hypercolor t-shirt was the only one that I bothered to iron. |
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It is much easier to let people know how busy you are by letting them judge how many four letter words you screamed, how long that middle finger stayed up, and how many threats uppon their well being were made after they interupt you. :) (+) |
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