Productivity 1.0

Just a reminder not every functional, productivity-enhancing business tool requires a microchip or needs to connect to the Internet:

• Paper, not papyrus. Circa 105.
• Wooden pencil. Circa 1662.
• Mechanical pencil. Circa 1820. (160 patents on this between 1820 and 1877!)
• Rubber band. Circa 1845.
• Stapler. Circa 1879.
• Paperclip. Circa 1890.
• 3-hole paper punch (via BoingBoing). Circa 1940.
• Ballpoint pen. Circa 1943.
• Magic Marker. Circa 1952.
• Fiber tip pens. Circa 1962.
• Highlighters. Circa 1970.
• Post-it note. Circa 1980.
• Whiteboards and DryErase Magic Markers. Circa 1995.

Some days it seems like we can’t do without the computer, Blackberry/Treo or the Internet. Try a week at work without the above.