Our recent posts have considered different ways of using Generative AI to help you think.
We started with a bunch of faces, a bunch of disciplines, a bunch of roles. These were surprising uses of Generative AI in that they aren’t what people have been thinking of using it for.
Let’s turn to the wonderous thing we do to get started on any project. Making lists is a hard skill to learn, but it serves us well in so many situations. In my tween years, I was constantly trying to learn to plan: what does it take to take a TV apart and put it back together? What does it take to prepare for an overnight bike ride? The things we haven’t done are harder to make lists for. But then if we have done them once, they aren’t as much of an adventure. The new things are the things to make lists for.
You said: What does it take to prepare for an overnight bike ride, in 75 words or less.
ChatGPT said: To prepare for an overnight bike ride, ensure your bike is in top condition with properly inflated tires and functioning gears. Pack lightweight, weather-appropriate clothing, a sleeping bag, and a tent or hammock. Bring food, water, and a portable stove or snacks. Include a repair kit, maps, and a power bank. Plan your route and campsite, and check the weather forecast. Stay safe by wearing a helmet, using lights, and having emergency contacts.
You said: What is similar about preparing for an overnight backpacking trip?
ChatGPT said: Preparing for an overnight backpacking trip is similar to an overnight bike ride in that both require careful packing, route planning, and ensuring gear is in good condition. For both, you’ll need weather-appropriate clothing, shelter (tent or hammock), food, water, and a way to cook or store food. A repair kit, maps, and a power bank are also important. Safety gear like a helmet (for biking) or first aid kit, plus checking the weather, is essential for both activities.
Of course it can make lists of things everyone talks about and does, but if we want to have it make lists of corner topics, things it doesn’t know about, we might still rely on its list-making, but would have to teach it first about the topic.
You said: What do I do first when trying to fix a tube radio?
ChatGPT said: When fixing a tube radio, start by unplugging the radio to ensure safety. Then, inspect the tube sockets and ensure all tubes are properly seated. Check for visible damage or loose connections. If you suspect a tube is faulty, use a tube tester to confirm. Next, inspect the power supply (transformers, capacitors, and resistors) for signs of damage or wear. If needed, replace any defective parts and test the radio again.
You said: Tubes can be tapped on to jiggle their elements, this injects signal that, if the tube is working will continue to the next stage. Make a list of how I can use this to test the radio while it’s on, using the diagram of the circuit inside the radio.
ChatGPT said: To test a tube radio while it’s on using the diagram of the circuit, follow these steps:
- Identify key stages: Refer to the circuit diagram to identify the different stages, such as the power supply, oscillator, amplifier, and output stages.Locate the tubes: Find the positions of the tubes corresponding to each stage in the radio’s circuit. Focus on the ones critical to signal amplification.Tap the tube: Using a non-conductive tool (like a wooden or plastic stick), gently tap on each tube while the radio is on. This will jostle the internal elements and can cause signal disruption if the tube is working properly.Listen for changes: Pay attention to the audio output. If the tube is functional, tapping should produce a noticeable change in the sound, such as popping, distortion, or static. No change suggests the tube is not working.Move through the stages: Start with the early stages (e.g., the tuner or oscillator) and move through the amplifier stages towards the output tube. If any stage shows no response when tapped, it’s a potential issue point.Check signal continuity: Using the diagram, track the signal path and verify that the signal continues through each tube and stage after it is injected. If there’s a break in the signal, focus on the tube or components just before the break.Test in combination: After checking individual tubes, test combinations (e.g., a tube in the audio path along with the output tube). This can help you isolate issues more effectively.
By following these steps, you can use the tube-jiggling method to troubleshoot your tube radio while it is on and locate problem areas in the circuit.
Making categories and ordering sequences is important to everything we do. The more we shop at the same store, the easier it can become to structure our shopping list to the order we use to walk through the store to pick up things easily. Industrial engineering and even designing kitchens comes down to work order evaluation, finding an order to activities and structuring the environment to match. GenAI can order the chaos that can be a jumble of ideas and steps that come from bad habits by only considering part of a problem before we develop deep experience.
GenAI as the ordering tool can be used to improve completeness and efficiency of anything we do.
The uses of GenAI we have been discussing in past posts are about how to look at things from different points of view which we will return to, but we will also consider how to use it as a tool to help focus attention.
Ted Selker is a computer scientist and student of interfaces.
