The world has changed - from too little information to too much information

In the past, professionals and business people always complained about the lack of data to help them make sound decisions. Nowadays, with the advent of the Internet, people complain that too much information exists and they don’t have enough time to find the right information and digest it. There are 2 challenges in acquiring information

1. To focus on the best information sources available and ignore inferior ones (quality)
2. Once you have found the best information, to absorb more information using less time (quantity)

I want to share some tips to overcome the 2nd challenge. It’s actionable and you will see significant results within an hour, perhaps a 100% improvement in productivity

The limit of human beings - luckily our brains is not the limit

Human being can only read at certain speed. In today’s age of information overload, how can we “get up to speed” to absorb more and more information? Research has been done to understand what the factors limiting our speed of reading

1. Sub-vocalization - The tendency to read aloud even when one is reading silently. While you are reading, you can probably notice the little movements of your tongue, as if you’re reading out loud. The maximum number of words that human beings can vocalize is about 150. This limits to reading speed to not much faster than 150

2. Eye-ball movement - As we read, our eyeballs invariably move. It seems that lateral movement of the eyeball requires much energy, and thereby slows down reading speed. Informal, non-scientific evidence based on me and my friends’ experience (any scientific research to prove or disprove this?), suggest that it is slower for one to read in languages that are written horizontally, compared to reading the same thing on languages that are written vertically. Our eyeballs can only roll so fast. This is a physical limitation
3. Concentration - When I am reading a book, I tend to think about other things that are remotely related to contents of the book, or not related at all. This is especially bad when I was reading online. Sometimes I’d go check email, or when an interesting link comes up, I have problem resisting to click on it. This distracts me from concentrating on the content I’m reading, and thus reduce the speed

The conclusion is that the speed at which the brain can process the information are not constraints to reading speed. This is good news, because technology and discipline can help us resolve the 3 constraints above. However, if our brains were to blame, it’d be much more difficult to increase the speed it which they run

Solutions to overcome human limits - Speed-reading tools

There are two types of speed reading tools. They serve different purposes

1. Rapid word-flashing software
   • Purpose: the purpose of the first type of tools is to help you read documents on a computer screen faster
   • How it works: This type of tools rapidly flashes words at the same position of the computer screen successively. It is like watching a movie in front of a computer screen. My eyeballs don’t have to move, and it helps me to concentrate. Best of all, when the speed of reading is higher, it eliminates my tendency to sub-vocalize
   • Preliminary test results: I managed to get up to 400 words per minute using the tool after a little practice, and for sure the speed can increase if I continue using it. It doesn’t seem to increase the speed of reading books though
   • Example: RapidReader. I recommend that you try a free trial version, downloadable at their website

Screenshot of RapidReader

2. Speed reading techniques training software
   • Purpose: The purpose of the second type of software is to improve your ability to read fast, both on screen and on paper, without the help of any tool
   • How it works: Instead of displaying words in the same place so your eyes don’t have to move laterally, this type of software trains your eyes to improve your span of vision. So when you’re reading a book, your eyeball will only focus on the middle of the line, and use your peripheral vision to read the left and the right. Now your eyeball doesn’t have to move laterally, increasing reading speed
   • Preliminary test results: I managed to get up to 350 words per minute reading a passage online, using the tool after a little practice. I can practice this skill without the tool, so it is useful for book-reading
   • Example: Best Reader. I recommend that you download a free trial version to try it out

Conclusion for lazy people

For quick results without much additional work, I recommend Rapid Reader, a rapid word-flashing software. Given the increasing number of documents I read on-screen, this is more useful. And the fact that I can sit back and relax to read faster is something I can’t resist

I hope the tools will help you increase your information uptake

Additional information

Examples of languages written horizontally

• English, from left to right, then top to bottom
• Arabic, from right to left, then top to bottom

Examples of languages written vertically

• Japanese, from top to bottom then right to left
• Mongolian, from top to bottom then left to right

For more on different writing systems, see Wikipedia entry on writing system

One of the most frustrating things that can happen to travelers is delay at the airport. The issue has been particularly serious in Kuwait for arriving visitors who’re non-GCC Nationals. There have been times when I had to wait more than 2 hours at the airport before being allowed to enter the country. So I decide to find out and share some tips to help other people save time. Hope this is useful for you

The problem - lengthy visa procedure at Kuwait International Airport

Kuwait has a visa process that is restrictive by international standard. Every non-GCC visitor has to apply for visa in advance before entering Kuwait. In 2004, the Ministry of Interior has adopted a policy to open up its borders. Nationals of the following countries can apply for visa at the airport

1. USA.
2. UK.
3. France.
4. Italy.
5. Germany.
6. Canada.
7. Australia.
8. New Zealand.
9. Japan.
10. The Netherlands.
11. Belgium.
12. Luxembourg.
13. Switzerland.
14. Austria.
15. Sweden.
16. Norway.
17. Denmark.
18. Portugal.
19. Ireland.
20. Greece.
21. Finland.
22. Spain.
23. Monaco.
24. the Vatican.
25. Iceland.
26. Andorra.
27. San Marino.
28. Liechtenstein.
29. Brunei.
30. Singapore.
31. Malaysia.
32. Hong Kong.
33. South Korea.
34. China.*

*They recently excluded China, but the decision was not publicized. Customs officials told me they originally did not plan to restrict Chinese visitors. However, thousands of prostitutes and criminals flock to the country and stay there using the loophole. Therefore, when you arrive at Kuwait International Airport today, you will see notice boards stating people from these 34 countries can obtain visa there, with big crosses covering the word “China”. Moreover, Nationals of Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong were screened in extra caution (that means extra wait time!), because Kuwaiti officials are concerned that Chinese may try using fake passports of these 3 countries to enter Kuwait. They have no way to tell from the look, whether someone is from Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong or China

Usually people need to wait for 1 - 1.5 hour to have a visa issued. If you don’t want to wait, here is a good service to use

Solution - Hala (Meet-and-greet) Services
Realizing this problem, entrepreneurs have found a way to speed up the visa process. This is a service run by a private company called Hala Services Kuwait. User can register online or call them at +965-842-842 (Ext. 304) to ask for help. Of all the services they provide (from welcoming you by flowers and dates at the gate to wheelchair assistance), I recommend the airport visa service

I tried it myself. As soon as I stepped out of the plane, I saw a lady holding up a cardboard with my name on it. Then she escorted me directly to the visa counter. Instead of waiting in line with the other ~100 travelers, we bypassed the whole process by using a special counter. 15 minutes later, I was already outside the airport

It costs 1 KD (~3.5 USD), but it’s worth it as I don’t have to worry about waiting. Now I don’t have to worry about arriving after a 747-400 from Amsterdam, and how long I have to wait until they give you a visa

For more information,

Hala Services in Kuwait’s International Airport

Kuwaitah website on Kuwait visa procedure

For frequent fliers, finding the best route is a constant headache. People always want to find flights that

Meet their time schedule
- For those who travel during the week, flights departing 7 - 9pm are the best. Then you can work the whole day in one city, travel to another and start the next day

Have the least number of stops, or ideally, non-stop

Have the best timed connections
- You don’t want to wait in Heathrow for 8 hours for your connecting flight. Examples of well-timed connection are flights from Taipei to Shanghai, via Jeju Island. Barring direct flights, this is the shortest route between Taiwan and Mainland China, with travel time just ~4 hours

These are some tools that help you plan your trips. Using these programs, you can look at flights and find the route that best fits your need. An handy feature of these programs is that you can use them on the go, without the Internet. The timetables are downloaded automatically when you’re online, and are stored in your computer. They also support Palm and PocketPC

Star Alliance trip planner

Skyteam trip planner

OneWorld trip planner

1. Enrol in EXACTLY 3 frequent flyer programs, no more, no less

Rationale for doing it
There are 3 global airline alliances, Star Alliance, SkyTeam, and OneWorld. They cover most of the routes in the world. If you choose 3 airlines and each belong to one of the alliances, you can travel anywhere with mileage pocketed

Problem if you don’t do it
Some people take flights that don’t fit their schedule well just to earn miles in their preferred airlines. One of my friends, who’s a Cathay Pacific member, picked a flight very early in the morning just for the Miles. Enroling in 3 programs avoids this unncessary compromise. If he is also a Singapore Airline member, he could have gotten a much better schedule between Singapore and Hong Kong

Exmaple of how this is done - Hong Kong as base city, with lots of traveling (>50 sectors a year) within Asia and moderate traveling (10 - 20 sectors a year) outside Asia

Preferred options depending on your routing. They should be complimentary, so if you have JAL already, you wouldn’t want ANA as well
1. OneWorld - Cathay Pacific / JAL
2. Star Alliance - Thai Airways / Singapore Airlines / ANA / Asiana / Air China
3. SkyTeam - Korean Air / Delta / China Southern

Recommendation
1. OneWorld - Cathay Pacific
2. Star Alliance - Singapore Airlines
3. SkyTeam - Korean Air

Exceptions
If a lot of your trips involve the Middle East, enrol in 4 programs. 3 airlines in each alliance, plus the Emirates. It is essential to get Emirates status as it covers many routes from Dubai, a major regional hub. Separately, if you fly extensively to/from Taiwan, getting China Airlines / Eva membership helps

Many people I know are heavy travelers who take 20 - 200 trips a year. Yet they haven’t found out how to utilize their frequent flyer programs to their maximum potential. Here’re some tips I’ve learnt

1. Enrol in EXACTLY 3 frequent flyer programs, no more, no less

2. Bank your miles in 1 program unless you have to split them

3. Always check prices before redeeming your miles