When I became a Paper Tiger Authorized Consultant, I discovered the Paper Tiger software and was rather amazed by what it could do. I had frequently wished for two computer functions to transfer into the physical realm: "find" and "undo." I'm not holding my breath waiting for "undo" anytime soon, but the Paper TIger software put "find" into play for physical files and objects. You didn't have to scan anything in; you just listed what was in your files by keyword and then you could search the software to find where stuff was.
That was pretty great. But the new iProductive Environment Platform™ (iPEP) is even better.
For one thing, the iPEP is online, which means no platform issues. (I had to get a PC netbook just to run Paper Tiger software, but now I'm back on my Mac with iPEP.) It also means major portability; you can find stuff from any computer anywhere—even on your iPhone, iPod touch or Blackberry!
Also, the iPEP uses the same pbworks (formerly pbwiki) platform that's been used for project management and collaboration for the past couple of years. So it can organize your personal/business files, the files for a workgroup or the files for an entire corporation.
Like the old Paper Tiger software, you index your files in iPEP by using keywords that describe what's in each physical file. In the iPEP, you create a new page for each file and enter "tags" for searchable keywords. Unlike the old PT software, the iPEP can contain electronic files, Web links, audio, video, notes—if you can post it online, you can put it in the iPEP!
That means that all of your resources for any project can be searched and tracked from just one spot. Enter the keywords, and you can find files on your computer, in your filing cabinet and on a Web site half the world away. That's a lot of potential time savings.
Next week, we'll discuss the iPEP further, but I just wanted to share my initial excitement about the new platform with you. If you have any questions about it, just let me know in the comments.
Catherine, this is a great article. We were demonstrating the iPEP last night for some new consultants and they were so excited about what they can do with this platform. The sky is the limit! You've done a fabulous job describing it. I encourage your readers to contact you and get set up on their own iPEP right away!!
Posted by: Andrea Anderson | 04/30/2009 at 04:58 PM
As a Productivity Consultant I have tried many of the different file systems that are available. For the past several years I have used Paper Tiger, but now that we have iPEP it's definitely THE way to go now!
Where else can you find all your paper and electronic files (and so much more...) in one spot?
Posted by: Athenee Mastrangelo, CPO | 04/30/2009 at 05:36 PM