Communication
A Picture Is Worth a 1000 Lines of Code
Summarized using AI
A Picture Is Worth a 1000 Lines of Code
by Rich SteinmetzIn the presentation titled "A Picture Is Worth a 1000 Lines of Code," Rich Steinmetz discusses the imperative of visual communication in coding education and workplace interactions. He emphasizes that our brains are wired to process images, making visual aids crucial for understanding complex concepts. With numerous examples from coding environments, he highlights how traditional methods involving excessive text and code can lead to cognitive overload while underutilizing our visual processing capabilities.
Key Points:
- Visual Thinking: Steinmetz asserts that drawing should be regarded as integral to thinking and communication, similar to speaking or writing. Most school systems focus on verbal skills, often neglecting the development of visual literacy.
- Cognitive Load: He reflects on modern content consumption, noting that excessive verbal information can stress the verbal brain while underutilizing visual pathways, leading to engagement problems.
- Framework for Visualization: Steinmetz proposes a structured framework consisting of six micro-frameworks aimed at visualizing problems, emphasizing the use of a 'visual alphabet' that includes basic shapes and symbols to convey ideas effectively.
- Personal Journey: He shares his personal struggle with drawing, likening it to common experiences where many believe they lack drawing ability. His journey from self-doubt to visual competency illustrates that with practice and the right mindset, one can develop visual thinking skills.
- Practical Applications: Sharing anecdotes from coding discussions, he illustrates how visualizing relationships and processes can result in clearer communication and better problem-solving. He illustrates the application of his framework in making abstract coding concepts accessible to others.
- Conclusion: Steinmetz concludes by urging his audience to embrace visual thinking and to integrate it into their professional practices, suggesting that doing so can lead to richer, more effective communication.
His call to action is for individuals to start drawing, thus fostering a culture where visual thinking is embraced, ultimately leading to better collaboration and creativity in tech environments.
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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.
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