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{{short description|Trick to make life easier}}
{{About|the concept|the Singaporean television show|Life Hacks}}{{short description|Trick to make life easier}}
[[File:Modified keyboard (16372763).jpg|thumb|A keyboard inexpensively hacked with [[K'Nex]] pieces, to allow an operator suffering from wrist pain to press the control, alt and shift keys with the thumb]]
[[File:Modified keyboard (16372763).jpg|thumb|A keyboard inexpensively hacked with [[K'Nex]] pieces to allow an operator suffering from wrist pain to press the {{Key press|control}}, {{Key press|alt}} and {{Key press|shift}} keys with the thumb]]
A '''life hack''' (or '''life hacking''') is any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that increases [[productivity]] and [[efficiency]], in all walks of life. The term was primarily used by computer experts who suffer from [[information overload]] or those with a playful curiosity in the ways they can accelerate their workflow in ways other than programming.
A '''life hack''' (or '''life hacking''') is any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that increases [[productivity]] and [[efficiency]], in all walks of life. The term was primarily used by computer experts who suffer from [[information overload]] or those with a playful curiosity in the ways they can accelerate their workflow in ways other than programming.


==History==
==History==
The original definition of the term "[[Hack (computer science)|hack]]" is "to cut with rough or heavy blows". In the modern vernacular it has often been used to describe an inelegant but effective solution to a specific computing problem, such as quick-and-dirty [[shell scripts]] and other [[command line]] utilities that filtered, [[Mung (computer term)|munged]] and processed data streams like [[e-mail]] and [[RSS feeds]].<ref name="ob int" /><ref name="cd notes" /> The term was later extended to ''life hack,'' in reference to a solution to a problem unrelated to computers that might occur in a programmer's everyday life.{{cn|date=October 2020}} Examples of these types of life hacks might include utilities to synchronize files, track tasks, remind oneself of events, or filter e-mail.{{fact|date=November 2021}}
The original definition of the term "[[Hack (computer science)|hack]]" is "to cut with rough or heavy blows". In the modern vernacular it has often been used to describe an inelegant but effective solution to a specific computing problem, such as quick-and-dirty [[shell scripts]] and other [[command line]] utilities that filtered, [[Mung (computer term)|munged]] and processed data streams like [[e-mail]] and [[RSS feeds]].<ref name="ob int" /><ref name="cd notes" /> The term was later extended to ''life hack,'' in reference to a solution to a problem unrelated to computers that might occur in a programmer's everyday life.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} Examples of these types of life hacks might include utilities to synchronize files, track tasks, remind oneself of events, or filter e-mail.{{citation needed|date=November 2021}}


==Popularization==
==Popularization==
The term <i>life hack</i> was coined in 2004 during the [[O'Reilly Media|O'Reilly]] Emerging Technology Conference in [[San Diego, California]] by technology journalist [[Danny O'Brien (journalist)|Danny O'Brien]] to describe the "embarrassing" [[scripting language|scripts]] and shortcuts productive IT professionals use to get their work done.<ref name="ob int" /><ref name="lh presentation" />
The term ''life hack'' was coined in 2004 during the [[O'Reilly Media|O'Reilly]] Emerging Technology Conference in [[San Diego, California]] by technology journalist [[Danny O'Brien (journalist)|Danny O'Brien]] to describe the "embarrassing" [[scripting language|scripts]] and shortcuts productive IT professionals use to get their work done.<ref name="ob int" /><ref name="lh presentation" />


O'Brien and blogger [[Merlin Mann]] later co-presented a session called "Life Hacks Live" at the 2005 O'Reilly Emerging Technology conference.<ref name="lh live" /> The two also co-author a column entitled "Life Hacks" for O'Reilly's [[Make (magazine)|''Make'' magazine]] which debuted in February 2005.<ref name="Life Hacks Column" />
O'Brien and blogger [[Merlin Mann]] later co-presented a session called "Life Hacks Live" at the 2005 O'Reilly Emerging Technology conference.<ref name="lh live" /> The two also co-author a column entitled "Life Hacks" for O'Reilly's [[Make (magazine)|''Make'' magazine]] which debuted in February 2005.<ref name="Life Hacks Column" />
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== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Hacker]]
** [[Hacker culture]]
** [[Security hacker]]
* [[Kitchen hack]]
* [[Kitchen hack]]
* [[Jugaad]] – similar concept
* [[Jugaad]]
* [[Kludge]] – similar concept
* [[Kludge]]
* [[Urawaza]] – similar concept
* [[Urawaza]]
* [[Self-help]]
* [[FlyLady]] – housekeeping methodology
* [[Self-help]] – self-guided improvement—economically, intellectually, or emotionally—often with a substantial psychological basis
* [[Tim Ferriss]] – author
* ''[[Getting Things Done]]'' – book and time management method

=== In fiction ===
* [[MacGyverisms]]
* [[MacGyverisms]]
* [[Rube Goldberg]] – cartoonist
* ''LifeHax'', a comedic web series created by [[Michael Swaim]]

=== Techniques ===
* [[43 Folders]] – time and file management system
* [[Hipster PDA]] – paper-based personal organizer
* [[Incremental reading]] – reading and learning method
* [[Pomodoro Technique]] – time management method
* [[Spaced repetition]] – long-term memorization principle
* [[Timeboxing]] – time management method


==References==
==References==
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<ref name="ob int">{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/software/interviews/interview-father-of-life-hacks-danny-obrien-036370.php|title=Interview: father of "life hacks" Danny O'Brien|publisher=Lifehacker.com|date=2005-03-17|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="ob int">{{cite web|url=http://lifehacker.com/software/interviews/interview-father-of-life-hacks-danny-obrien-036370.php|title=Interview: father of "life hacks" Danny O'Brien|publisher=Lifehacker.com|date=2005-03-17|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="cd notes">{{cite web|url=http://www.craphound.com/lifehacksetcon04.txt|title=Cory Doctorow's notes from Danny O'Brien's first Life Hacks presentation|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="cd notes">{{cite web|url=http://www.craphound.com/lifehacksetcon04.txt|title=Cory Doctorow's notes from Danny O'Brien's first Life Hacks presentation|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="lh presentation">{{cite web|url=http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2004/view/e_sess/4802|title=O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2004|date=1999-02-22|publisher=Conferences.oreillynet.com|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="lh presentation">{{cite web|url=http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2004/view/e_sess/4802|title=O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2004|date=1999-02-22|publisher=Conferences.oreillynet.com|accessdate=2010-03-11|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070918035304/http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2004/view/e_sess/4802|archivedate=2007-09-18}}</ref>
<ref name="lh live">{{cite web|url=http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2005/view/e_sess/5958|title=O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2005|publisher=Conferences.oreillynet.com|date=1999-02-22|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="lh live">{{cite web|url=http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2005/view/e_sess/5958|title=O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2005|publisher=Conferences.oreillynet.com|date=1999-02-22|accessdate=2010-03-11|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070910143756/http://conferences.oreillynet.com/cs/et2005/view/e_sess/5958|archivedate=2007-09-10}}</ref>
<ref name="Life Hacks Column">{{cite web|url=http://makezine.com/lifehacks/|title=Life hacks|publisher=Makezine.com|accessdate=2012-07-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527175904/http://makezine.com/lifehacks/|archivedate=2012-05-27}}</ref>
<ref name="Life Hacks Column">{{cite web|url=http://makezine.com/lifehacks/|title=Life hacks|publisher=Makezine.com|accessdate=2012-07-01|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527175904/http://makezine.com/lifehacks/|archivedate=2012-05-27}}</ref>
<ref name="ads">{{cite web|url=http://www.americandialect.org/Words_of_the_Year_2005.pdf|title=Words of the Year 2005.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="ads">{{cite web|url=http://www.americandialect.org/Words_of_the_Year_2005.pdf|title=Words of the Year 2005.pdf|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>
<ref name="digitallife">{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/money/nsfw-zomg-twittersphere-added-dictionary-122978|title='NSFW,' 'ZOMG,' and 'Twittersphere' added to dictionary|publisher=today.com|accessdate=2015-10-22}}</ref>
<ref name="digitallife">{{cite web|url=http://www.today.com/money/nsfw-zomg-twittersphere-added-dictionary-122978|title='NSFW,' 'ZOMG,' and 'Twittersphere' added to dictionary|date=3 June 2011 |publisher=today.com|accessdate=2015-10-22}}</ref>
<!--<ref name="lh">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/17/AR2007051702303.html|title=Working|publisher=washingtonpost.com|date=2007-05-18|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>-->
<!--<ref name="lh">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/17/AR2007051702303.html|title=Working|publisher=washingtonpost.com|date=2007-05-18|accessdate=2010-03-11}}</ref>-->
<!--<ref name="pbs mediashift">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2010/09/how-college-students-became-mini-media-moguls-in-school251.html|title=How College Students Became Mini-Media Moguls in School|last=Reimold|first=Dan|accessdate=2010-09-11|date=2010-09-08|work=PBS Media Shift}}</ref>-->
<!--<ref name="pbs mediashift">{{cite web|url=http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2010/09/how-college-students-became-mini-media-moguls-in-school251.html|title=How College Students Became Mini-Media Moguls in School|last=Reimold|first=Dan|accessdate=2010-09-11|date=2010-09-08|work=PBS Media Shift}}</ref>-->
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[[Category:Hacker culture]]
[[Category:Hacker culture]]
[[Category:Life skills]]
[[Category:Life skills]]
[[Category:Do it yourself]]
[[Category:Personal life]]
[[Category:Personal life]]
[[Category:2000s neologisms]]
[[Category:2000s neologisms]]

Latest revision as of 04:58, 5 November 2024

This article is about the concept. For the Singaporean television show, see Life Hacks.
A keyboard inexpensively hacked with K'Nex pieces to allow an operator suffering from wrist pain to press the control, alt and ⇧ Shift keys with the thumb

A life hack (or life hacking) is any trick, shortcut, skill, or novelty method that increases productivity and efficiency, in all walks of life. The term was primarily used by computer experts who suffer from information overload or those with a playful curiosity in the ways they can accelerate their workflow in ways other than programming.

History

[edit]

The original definition of the term "hack" is "to cut with rough or heavy blows". In the modern vernacular it has often been used to describe an inelegant but effective solution to a specific computing problem, such as quick-and-dirty shell scripts and other command line utilities that filtered, munged and processed data streams like e-mail and RSS feeds.[1][2] The term was later extended to life hack, in reference to a solution to a problem unrelated to computers that might occur in a programmer's everyday life.[citation needed] Examples of these types of life hacks might include utilities to synchronize files, track tasks, remind oneself of events, or filter e-mail.[citation needed]

Popularization

[edit]

The term life hack was coined in 2004 during the O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference in San Diego, California by technology journalist Danny O'Brien to describe the "embarrassing" scripts and shortcuts productive IT professionals use to get their work done.[1][3]

O'Brien and blogger Merlin Mann later co-presented a session called "Life Hacks Live" at the 2005 O'Reilly Emerging Technology conference.[4] The two also co-author a column entitled "Life Hacks" for O'Reilly's Make magazine which debuted in February 2005.[5]

The American Dialect Society voted lifehack (one word) as the runner-up for "most useful word of 2005" behind podcast.[6] The word was also added to the Oxford Dictionaries Online in June 2011.[7]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "Interview: father of "life hacks" Danny O'Brien". Lifehacker.com. 2005-03-17. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  2. ^ "Cory Doctorow's notes from Danny O'Brien's first Life Hacks presentation". Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  3. ^ "O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2004". Conferences.oreillynet.com. 1999-02-22. Archived from the original on 2007-09-18. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  4. ^ "O'Reilly Emerging Technology Conference 2005". Conferences.oreillynet.com. 1999-02-22. Archived from the original on 2007-09-10. Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  5. ^ "Life hacks". Makezine.com. Archived from the original on 2012-05-27. Retrieved 2012-07-01.
  6. ^ "Words of the Year 2005.pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 2010-03-11.
  7. ^ "'NSFW,' 'ZOMG,' and 'Twittersphere' added to dictionary". today.com. 3 June 2011. Retrieved 2015-10-22.
[edit]
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