White boards, you have all seem them somewhere or other. You know the white shiny surfaces that you use dry erase markers to write on. The black board of today, only its white and requires none of that dusty chalk.
I love white boards, at just about every professional software development job I have worked at I have had a white board in my office as well as white boards in conference rooms and meeting rooms. To me they have become indispensable when it comes to planning out a project or just brain storming.
Well in the summer of 2007 when had a disaster strike the house we were living in and my white boards were damaged beyond repair. Where I live we seem to have a shortage of housing so our options for a place to move into were limited. We moved from a house that was 3640 square feet to one that is just over 1000 square feet. So need less to space my office space is cramped and was with out white boards.
However I learned in the army to improvise, adapt and over come. Since I had no white boards to map out my software projects, or draw my mind maps I resorted to using paper. It just wasn’t the same, so then I tried software. No luck there either, I mean both paper and software worked, but it just didn’t feel right. The ideas did not seem to flow as smoothly. maybe I am just a little too anal retentive, I mean in order for me to draw or be creative I need certain things. For example I only use Staidler mechanical pencils, and for pens, well don’t even get me started. If some one happens to draw or write in my sketch pad, then that’s it I can’t use it anymore. Its ruined for me. I know its an eccentric personality quark but for me it works. If it is not broke, don’t fix it right?
Well last night I had resolved that I could no longer function with out a white board. So off to Wal~Mart (cause I am cheap and its the only big store around here) I go. Well just my luck they were sold out of the cheap dry erase boards I wanted. I thought I was doomed to not get a white board.
Today I had to go to the local office supply store. Remember my need for just the right pen? While there I checked out how much their dry erase boards were. Well lo and behold there sat a damaged 48 inch x 38 inch white board on sale for half price. All that was wrong was that it had a bend in it.
I am happy to say it is now hanging in my small office and I have already used it to quickly mind map out this post.
But what is that makes a dry erase board so effective for me?
- I think the most important factor is that it is not permanent. If I screw something up or don’t like what I write. Just a quick wipe and it is gone.
- Its a big space and I don’t feel cramped like when I am using a sheet of paper.
- It is real easy to make colorful
- When operating in a team environment other members can add to it with ease.
- They are just fun to use and fun is a big part of creativity.
- A white board makes it easier for me to map out ideas, add and remove as I go.
- Maybe I am just addicted to the smell of the markers….
I am really curious as to what others use for mapping out ideas and such. Do you use software? Do you just use paper? Or are you like me and use a white board?
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