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Unfortunately, we don't have time anymore.
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So, if you're up for it, we can play a little drawing game after the show.
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Let's dive right in because I came all the way from Europe.
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I brought a very well-known saying from Barcelona: A picture is worth a thousand lines of code.
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There’s a very common situation where you buy a book, you read it, and it’s filled with a lot of code and text.
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This often leads to a roadblock, also known as a code blog: more code, more text.
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Your brain can feel overloaded by it.
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But here’s an interesting thought: if we look with one eye, we can see something.
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After 50 pages of text and code, there’s often a picture.
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This picture, where Michael Hartl is explaining the MVC framework, has stuck in my mind.
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We all love these visual bits because our brains are wired for visual processing.
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Feel free to draw along if you see something that resonates with you.
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Let me ask you a question: what do you think this represents?
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You might think a circle, or perhaps more of an egg.
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I’d like to picture this as a sophisticated schematic image of your brain.
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We enjoy these visual bits because 30% of our brain processes images.
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30% of your brain is currently working on what you see right now.
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Additionally, 20 to 30% of our brain is processing some form of visual information.
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Essentially, we are visual processing machines.
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So it's no surprise that we often feel overloaded by information.
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We’re all very happy when I promise to make one point per slide.
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But those moments of relief are rare, often amidst overwhelming content.
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Think about the content you've consumed in the past week.
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Reflect on it for a moment.
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If you're like me, you’ve been crushed by verbal content, audio, and text.
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I receive numerous messages, emails, and private communications.
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I read a lot, whether it’s books, audiobooks, community chats, or Discord.
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There are thousands of Slack messages and countless podcasts.
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And documentation, including Stack Overflow, piles on to the information overload.
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By the end of the week, your verbal brain feels completely overloaded.
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Meanwhile, the visual parts of your brain are probably quite bored.
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What if we lived in a world where drawing was as valid a mode of thinking as writing or speaking?
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In school, we are taught to speak and write, but often we shy away from drawing.
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Imagine a world where more things were explained visually, perhaps even interactively.
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Newcomers wouldn't fear algorithms; they would visualize how data flows.
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We would have people sketchnoting effectively.
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In fact, how many of you are sketchnoting right now?
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A few hands, that's great to see!
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Next year, I expect many more people will be sketchnoting.
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Podcasts with videos would show real people sharing visuals.
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And colleagues would send engaging emails with little sketches to explain concepts.
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No one really reads the long, text-heavy emails.
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This could lead to more engaging meetings, establishing common ground.
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In the end, our visual processing machines would be happier on average.
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Consider whether a particular topic truly concerns you.
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Is this really about you? Do you care about it?
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I learned from someone at this conference that this slide is now deprecated.
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The individual said, 'Rich, this concept of thinking types is really cool, but I don't have thoughts at all when I close my eyes.'
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This person is essentially meditating all the time.
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This illustrates that we are all unique and somewhere on a spectrum.
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Many people fall between types 1 and 3.
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Some are extreme image thinkers. For them, images flow to their minds like an Instagram feed.
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Engineers might see code patterns; some visualize files moving around.
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People like me may have step-by-step thoughts.
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Let’s do a quick exercise: think about a cat.
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What comes to mind? A concrete image of a cat?
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Or maybe you're like me, and you picture very simple stick figures.
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Even the verbal thinkers, those who describe things in words, enjoy visuals.
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Visualizing enhances everyone's understanding.
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However, we face a barrier: many people say, 'I can't draw.'
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Twenty years ago, I felt the same way.
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I labeled myself as someone with 'two left hands' and quit drawing.
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Five years ago, I lamented to my wife, who's an artist, that I couldn't even draw a simple cup.
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It was a sad and relatable moment.
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Many here may share this experience.
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There’s someone in the visual thinking community who suggests that 75% of people say they can't draw.
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Only 25% will engage with a whiteboard if there’s a problem to solve.
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Interestingly, it's not always easy for visual thinkers, either.
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Switching modes from verbal to visual thinking requires energy and effort.
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In an environment without a drawing culture, how do we prompt visual thinking?
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How do we avoid being seen as 'the weirdo' who draws without practice?
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We must start with ourselves and make it easier.
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What makes things easier? Perhaps a framework.
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We’re at a Framework Conference, after all!
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We use frameworks to avoid reinventing the wheel.
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Processes guide us even when we don’t realize it. Refactoring involves processes.
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Our vision can be parallel processes, similar to how computers work.
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Now, we're going to introduce a framework to help you visualize.
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Imagine you’re in a park on your favorite bench. Picture this scene.
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Let’s explore some images: what do you see?
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Notice the details; look closely.
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Now, imagine how you'd draw it.
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Vision involves six neural pathways engaged in visualizing.
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When entering a room, you first detect the objects.
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How many chairs are there? Is there one person or many?
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Your brain makes guesses and tries to relate objects.
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As time passes, it also constructs a timeline.
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Once you gather frames, your brain begins to make connections.
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The flowchart is often a culmination of the thought process.
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However, we jump to conclusions too quickly.
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Understanding relationships helps reveal why things happen.
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For example, dogs and birds interact, but it can get chaotic.
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So, we can use a six-by-six framework.
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We need a visual alphabet.
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If you say 'I can't draw', you probably lack a visual alphabet.
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It’s simple: start with basic shapes—squares, circles, triangles, lines.
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When I began visualizing, I used circles and squares for mind maps.
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With practice, I developed more complex stick figures.
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Let’s see the framework in action with an example.
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I won't do this live since it's challenging. Maybe we can do it later.
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Starting with a clarity challenge allows you to visualize better.
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Think of a moment when you struggled to explain something.
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I faced a recent challenge at a Toastmasters event.
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I was asked why Ruby is an amazing language.
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I felt as if I didn’t convey the core of the language's value.
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To make it concrete, my conversation partner was Maria, a linguist.
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She is concerned about AI taking her job and wants to learn coding.
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My explanation focused on Ruby's human readability and criticized Java.
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I rambled about syntax instead of addressing her real concerns.
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I wondered if using the framework would lead to a better explanation.
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The first step is to clarify what we have in this situation.
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There’s Ruby, Maria, and her dilemma with AI.
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Next, identify how many relevant people and aspects are involved.
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Engagement with the Ruby community is vital.
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Ruby's syntax stands out in the realm of programming.
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This community particularly welcomes newcomers.
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Now, let's visualize relationships and connections.
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Maria's journey highlights these connections.
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Consider the goal she aims to achieve.
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With the right support, she can navigate the coding landscape.
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AI can serve as an assistant along the way.
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After gaining fundamentals, she will have greater opportunities.
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With a clearer sense of relationships, we can map out timelines.
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Starting timeline estimations help in pacing her journey.
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The realism of a timeline will show the effort required to achieve her goals.
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Providing a logical end point offers a clearer route.
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Ultimately, committing to a plan will empower her progress.
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In this scenario, I could have offered a more expressive response.
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Imagine saying: 'Hey Maria, if you combine Ruby, true commitment, and the Ruby community, maybe you'll find opportunities!'
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That would feel more directly connected to her problem.
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In short, context supports better communication.
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Often in engineering, we rush toward solutions without understanding the bigger picture.
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So zooming out and seeing various parts can guide us better.
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Frameworks will be useful in different contexts.
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Don’t underestimate the power of visualizing complex topics.
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Use visual thinking not only for understanding but also for memory.
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You can bring a unique quality to your explanations through images.
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All you need to start drawing is a pen and paper.
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A whiteboard is perfect for explanations in physical spaces.
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Consider online tools for collaboration if in a virtual setting.
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Use your visual skills daily to improve understanding.
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In my teams, we collaborate to create visuals for newcomers.
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During brainstorms and design sprints, visuals always elevate engagement.
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Visual thinking fosters collaboration and brainstorming.
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Practice problem-solving with frameworks at your convenience.
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Your brain will appreciate the engagement and clarity it brings.
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In conclusion, utilize visuals to foster better understanding.
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Remember that visual communication can enlighten discussions.
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Ultimately, let visualization help you express your thoughts better.
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Together, we can create a world where thinking and drawing align.