An Interview with Julian Nott, Consultant Engineer / Balloonist

askSam Praised as a Information Manager

Reprinted with Permission

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askSam:  Mr. Nott, besides being a consultant engineer,  you are also one of the world's foremost balloonists.  I understand that you designed, built and flew the first hot air balloon in the world with a pressurized cabin, and that you have established seventy-nine world ballooning records one of which you set for flying a hot air balloon to over 55,000 feet.    As a consultant and a balloonist, what applications have you found for askSam?

MR. NOTT: I use askSam as a store for every kind of information.  When I first got the program in 1986,  I used to keep separate files for different sorts of information.  For instance, I had one for personal information, like my blood pressure at my last medical (don't worry, it's fine!), another for technical information like the properties of particular materials and data from experiments and another file for business contacts and addresses.  But I soon put everything into a single file: it is so easy to find whatever I want in a moment.  I find it highly convenient to have all the information I need in one place.

askSam: How has askSam made your job any easier, faster or more efficient?

MR. NOTT:  I use askSam for almost everything I do.  If  I write a letter, I copy and paste the address.  If I make a call, naturally I look up the number. Going on an appointment? I print out the askSam entry.  I leave the office with the the address and phone number where I am going and of course any incidental information.  That has only got me into trouble once when the person across the table saw that I had put "complete idiot" against their name!  

I see the personal computer as a real extension of the human brain.  Automobiles let us move faster: personal computers let us think faster.  I particularly like askSam because I can always find anything FAST even if it is something I have not thought about for a long time.  Some word or another will always find what I need without for instance remembering an exact name.

askSam: Can you tell me about what kind of customer support you have received as a user?

MR. NOTT:   I never needed much help because askSam is so easy to use. When ever I have called I have always got prompt and helpful answers.  I lost the manual years ago, but I never miss it and seldom use the help file.

askSam:  Would you recommend askSam and why?

MR. NOTT:  I am constantly telling people how liberating a free-form database is for all sorts of information storage: for all the reasons above.

askSam: What applications do you plan for askSam in the future?

MR. NOTT:  I have used askSam almost every day since 1986, probably even Christmas day to look up my Aunt's number to give her a call.  I expect it will continue to be central to the way I live for years to come.  I can't imagine doing anything without it.

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Julian Nott

Consultant Engineer

46 East 70 Street

New York,  NY, 10021

(914)414-3316

Email: info@nott.com

URL: http://www.nott.com