4 ms·

Does anyone here use point-and-call or something similar for more mundane activities than trains and planes? I started doing this while driving a few years ago.

Does anyone here use point-and-call or something similar for more mundane activities than trains and planes? I started doing this while driving a few years ago. I've gotten a good bit of shit over the years for it from skeptical passengers. Hard to point at a clear-cut win when it is about prevention.

deepspace 7y ago
I am somewhat obsessed with improving my driving skills, particularly w.r.t. anticipation and accident avoidance. I also got into the habit of using checklists for important but repetitive tasks after reading Gawande's book, Now I am kicking myself that I never thoguht about applying point-and-call to driving. I can absolutely see the benefit, but would need to think about the details. Do you point out only traffic signs and signals, or things like potential threats too?
- mieseratte 7y ago
  The biggest use for me is turning from a static position, e.g. left from a cross-street, having started this after I made a left turn but was t-boned, mind you I've always been religious about seatbelts, checking turns (left-right-left), etc. When doing a static turn I will point-and-call left, "Clear Left," point-and-call right, "Clear Right," point-and-call left again "Clear Left," then with both hands on the wheel say "Go." I will look-and-call for lane changes, pretty much as you would imagine look over the shoulder and "Clear Left," then "Turning." Same goes for right. For me it is more action oriented, to make sure I've assessed the area for issues. I haven't done anything like call outs for threats, but now I'm kicking myself for not thinking of that. I already do that religiously in FPS games, I could see how doing that would be good to get and stay in the habit of active scanning, "Pedestrian crossing, two o'clock." Might have to try that one out too, after all my friends will love that development :)
  - therealx 7y ago
    I can't imagine this with a straight face, but I do think you're a safer driver for it. I imagine an accident like that would rapidly change that. Even a small fender bender changes my driving rapidly for a good period of time. Too bad I can't get over myself :)
    - mieseratte 7y ago
      > I can't imagine this with a straight face If it works it ain't stupid. That's good enough for me. > Even a small fender bender changes my driving rapidly for a good period of time. That's always a good thing. Not sure what helps long-term other than commitment to a wonky habit. Like a good engineer, I do a post-mortem after any incident or near-incident. Crashes, tickets, brake-slams, etc. Unfortunately a lot of near-incidents are of other drivers that no amount of preparation can prevent, e.g. drivers turning onto your road severely under speed, drivers stopping short (10+ car lengths) near lights to be nice and let someone turn into or across the road.
rtkwe 7y ago
What's actually on your point and call for driving?
- mieseratte 7y ago
  To avoid extra chatter, see this reply: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20629895 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20629895
privateSFacct 7y ago
UPS and some other drivers have variations on this (around scanning).
marcosdumay 7y ago
I have a "punch every item" list for going out of my work building through the stairs, with the minimal necessary to be sure I can get back through the elevators and I have my belongings locked. I do point and call a recipe ingredients when I try to cook. I would love to make a point and call routine for packing travel bags, but their 3D nature makes it hard.
- mieseratte 7y ago
  > I have a "punch every item" list for going out of my work building through the stairs I have a little "dance," slap left-pocket (key / clip), slap right-pocket (phone, wallet), slap left-pocket again (double check keys), slap right-knee-pocket (knife). I should throw in a foot slap to make folks think I'm doing a Schuhplattler on my way out the door. > I do point and call a recipe ingredients when I try to cook You must have a nice spice shelf. I have 30+ spices in a narrow cabinet. Finding the right 4 is a chore unto itself.
  - tolstoshev 7y ago
    Spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch! :)
- SamReidHughes 7y ago
  I didn't even keep a list for that -- it was easier to keep a number. There were three things I needed to remember.

deepspace 7y ago

I am somewhat obsessed with improving my driving skills, particularly w.r.t. anticipation and accident avoidance. I also got into the habit of using checklists for important but repetitive tasks after reading Gawande's book, Now I am kicking myself that I never thoguht about applying point-and-call to driving. I can absolutely see the benefit, but would need to think about the details. Do you point out only traffic signs and signals, or things like potential threats too?

mieseratte 7y ago
The biggest use for me is turning from a static position, e.g. left from a cross-street, having started this after I made a left turn but was t-boned, mind you I've always been religious about seatbelts, checking turns (left-right-left), etc. When doing a static turn I will point-and-call left, "Clear Left," point-and-call right, "Clear Right," point-and-call left again "Clear Left," then with both hands on the wheel say "Go." I will look-and-call for lane changes, pretty much as you would imagine look over the shoulder and "Clear Left," then "Turning." Same goes for right. For me it is more action oriented, to make sure I've assessed the area for issues. I haven't done anything like call outs for threats, but now I'm kicking myself for not thinking of that. I already do that religiously in FPS games, I could see how doing that would be good to get and stay in the habit of active scanning, "Pedestrian crossing, two o'clock." Might have to try that one out too, after all my friends will love that development :)
- therealx 7y ago
  I can't imagine this with a straight face, but I do think you're a safer driver for it. I imagine an accident like that would rapidly change that. Even a small fender bender changes my driving rapidly for a good period of time. Too bad I can't get over myself :)
  - mieseratte 7y ago
    > I can't imagine this with a straight face If it works it ain't stupid. That's good enough for me. > Even a small fender bender changes my driving rapidly for a good period of time. That's always a good thing. Not sure what helps long-term other than commitment to a wonky habit. Like a good engineer, I do a post-mortem after any incident or near-incident. Crashes, tickets, brake-slams, etc. Unfortunately a lot of near-incidents are of other drivers that no amount of preparation can prevent, e.g. drivers turning onto your road severely under speed, drivers stopping short (10+ car lengths) near lights to be nice and let someone turn into or across the road.

rtkwe 7y ago

What's actually on your point and call for driving?

mieseratte 7y ago
To avoid extra chatter, see this reply: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20629895 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=20629895

privateSFacct 7y ago

UPS and some other drivers have variations on this (around scanning).

marcosdumay 7y ago

I have a "punch every item" list for going out of my work building through the stairs, with the minimal necessary to be sure I can get back through the elevators and I have my belongings locked. I do point and call a recipe ingredients when I try to cook. I would love to make a point and call routine for packing travel bags, but their 3D nature makes it hard.

mieseratte 7y ago
> I have a "punch every item" list for going out of my work building through the stairs I have a little "dance," slap left-pocket (key / clip), slap right-pocket (phone, wallet), slap left-pocket again (double check keys), slap right-knee-pocket (knife). I should throw in a foot slap to make folks think I'm doing a Schuhplattler on my way out the door. > I do point and call a recipe ingredients when I try to cook You must have a nice spice shelf. I have 30+ spices in a narrow cabinet. Finding the right 4 is a chore unto itself.
- tolstoshev 7y ago
  Spectacles, testicles, wallet, watch! :)
SamReidHughes 7y ago
I didn't even keep a list for that -- it was easier to keep a number. There were three things I needed to remember.