Iterate Weekly - Issue 15
Welcome to issue 15 of the Iterate weekly newsletter!
Hope you’re all doing well. Let’s jump into it.
You’ll see that the content here is broken down into 4 categories.
Tech - This will be the main focus of the newsletter. I’m dedicated to helping people improve their relationships with technology.
Learning - I consider myself an autodidact and like to examine the concept of learning how to be a more productive learner.
Health - None of these other topics are important if you’re not healthy enough to enjoy them.
Grab Bag - This could be something personal, something silly, something fun that doesn’t quite fit the other categories.
Finally, we’ll wrap things up with a quote of the week and a piece of content that I recommend you check out.
Tech
Are you ready for smart glasses?
We have “smart” versions of everything these days right? The term may be overused, but this recent article from Fast Company explains how we seem to be on the verge of a shift in what type of features are included in our eyewear.
Do you remember Google Glass? It was supposed to be the next revolutionary tech peripheral that we all needed to own. I had the chance to use an early prototype, and while it was interesting, I can see why it never panned out. Yes, an enterprise version of it still exists and it may be helping certain sectors, but it didn’t become a revolutionary piece of consumer tech as promised. Big companies like Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon are still tinkering with the right form factor to entice you to buy their vision wearables.
But a lot has changed in the near-decade since Google Glass caused nerds around the world to salivate. The technology needed to pull off immersively augmented and extended reality experiences (AR & XR respectively) has gotten smaller and less expensive. New companies are banking their futures on creating the perfect blend of form and function that people will wear every day even if they have perfect vision. I’m curious to see if it’s one of the established players or nascent upstarts who wins this battle.
Let’s be honest, the smartphone as we know it has started to lose its innovative luster. The new frontier of innovation lies on our wrists, in our ears, and right in front of our eyes.
Learning
Will TikTok teach young people how to get jobs?
Maybe this story is less about learning and more about the evolution of a social media platform.
TikTok has launched a program called TikTokResumes (appropriate name) where they are allowing users to upload video job applications. The obvious appeal here is to young people who may have less experience in the traditional job application process, but it’s really an intriguing idea for everyone.
Early companies who are part of the trial program include familiar names for entry-level work like Chipotle, Target, and GreatClips. But there are also opportunities for more experienced content creators and traditional media roles. You can learn more about the details of the program in this great story from The Verge.
I can’t say that I’m a TikTok user. But I am someone who has applied for jobs using video interviews and it can make for a much more pleasant experience than the old-fashioned approach of written resumes and hiring Q&A. Kudos to TikTok for trying something new, and let’s hope this teaches a new generation of professionals that the world of work (and job applications) is changing for the better.
Health
3 tips from 10+ years using a standing desk
I am standing as I type this. I stand as I do nearly all of my work on a daily basis. My first standing desk was constructed out of disjointed IKEA parts with a confused and tentative buy-in from a manager way back in 2010. If you’re interested in learning more about my current backyard standing desk setup (as pictured above) you can read about it here.
As I’ve passed my 10-year anniversary of predominantly using a standing desk (there have been some sitting desks along the way too, but I’ve also always had a good setup for standing when I need it!) I’ve learned many things. Here are a few nuggets of wisdom.
Eye line - You need to make sure that your eye line is correct. I mean that you should be looking straight ahead to see your computer screen. No looking down, no looking up. If your eyes are aligned correctly, the rest of your body will follow. This may mean ditching a second monitor, which I feel is overrated anyway.
90-Degree elbows - Make sure that your standing setup allows for a keyboard/mouse/trackpad setup that lets your elbows be at 90-degree angles while you type. There are different ways of achieving this, but I recommend a stand for your screen and a lower level for your keyboard and mouse. It’s nearly impossible to achieve this without multiple levels at your desk.
Keep Moving - Most people would say that standing while you work is better than sitting all day. But it should be a lot more nuanced than that. You don’t want to be a statue while working all day. Be sure to move around! Yes, maybe that means sitting for periods as well. I love to pace back and forth if I’m on a call where I’m not on camera. I have a stool that I perch on sometimes. I walk the dog and take regular breaks to get water and snacks. I’m rarely sitting for too long but I’m also always in motion.
Do you have a standing desk setup that works for you? Does it make you feel more healthy? Let me know in the comments below!
Grab Bag
Do you want to watch live stream commerce?
The Home Shopping Network and QVC were always an intriguing stop when flipping through the channels in the 80s and 90s. Maybe for some people they still are today. But there is no denying that the idea of sitting on your couch and watching someone talk about and demonstrate a product has a certain appeal. It’s a concept being described as “live stream commerce”.
Popshop Live aims to be the modern-day equivalent of QVC or HSN. It takes the tried and true business model of those networks and reimagines it through the eyes of content creators who are used to making videos on TikTok or streaming all day on Twitch.
So far the pitch seems to be working. They recently announced a new $20 million round of funding and a valuation of $100 million. A new generation of consumers are comfortable with the idea of watching their favorite creators stream content for hours at a time, much like companies would book time slots on QVC. The other advantage here is allowing small companies and individual makers to hawk their goods on this platform where they may have been priced out of traditional home shopping or infomercial content before.
Are you eager to watch something like this? Or even more importantly, do you wish that certain products you bought online had a QVC or “Vanna White” type of accompanying live stream that may have explained them better?
Quote of the Week
“Past and future are in the mind only - I am now” - Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj
Content Recommendation
Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel
If you’re a sports fan, this likely won’t be a new recommendation for you. But even if you have a passing interest in sports, you will love the stories that are tackled each month on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel.
It’s hard-hitting journalism that has won countless awards. The correspondents all come from various news backgrounds rather than solely from the world of sports. Some example stories from this month’s episode include a story on moving Olympic athletes to the front of the COVID-19 vaccination lines, investing real money into minor league baseball prospects as if you’re playing the stock market, and how cyclists, motorists, and pedestrians can live in harmony in Europe but not the U.S.
In addition to the show, they’ve started putting out content in podcast form as well. I highly recommend you check it out!