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Quick takeaways
- Automation can significantly improve efficiency and productivity by taking care of repetitive and tedious tasks.
- Automation can also be valuable for tasks that are difficult to accomplish through other means, such as finding and clicking on specific buttons on a webpage or integrating with apps that do not have APIs.
- Text Expander is a highly useful tool for automating repetitive typing tasks and creating templates.
Deep dives
The Value of Automation
Alison Sheridan shares the importance of automation, emphasizing that repetitive tasks are better suited for machines. She highlights the joy of automating and the satisfaction of solving problems through automation.
Favorite Automation Tools
Alison discusses her favorite automation tools, including other people who can create automations for her. She mentions Hazel, Keyboard Maestro, and Keyboard Shortcuts, but also highlights the fragility and challenges she has encountered with some of these tools.
Automating Repetitive Tasks in Podcast Production
Alison shares her automation experience in podcast production, specifically with Off Onik and transcriptions. She explains how she automated the process of moving files, generating transcriptions, and integrating them into show notes, enhancing efficiency and workflow.
The Importance of Automation
Automation can significantly improve efficiency and productivity by taking care of repetitive and tedious tasks. It is especially useful for automating tasks that are error-prone or that require a lot of manual effort. For example, using automation to launch all the necessary apps, turn off unnecessary services, and configure various settings for a live show can save time and prevent mistakes. Automation can also be valuable for tasks that are difficult to accomplish through other means, such as finding and clicking on specific buttons on a webpage or integrating with apps that do not have APIs. While automation can sometimes be fragile and require adjustments, it can still make a significant difference in streamlining workflows and reducing human error.
The Power of Text Expander and HomeKit
Text Expander is a highly useful tool for automating repetitive typing tasks and creating templates. It allows users to save time by quickly inserting frequently used phrases, URLs, and other snippets with just a few keystrokes. Text Expander also supports embedding one automation within another, enabling users to create complex snippets that can be easily modified. On the other hand, HomeKit offers automation solutions for smart home devices. While there might be challenges with the user interface and managing multiple apps, HomeKit allows users to create scenes and automations that enhance convenience and control in their homes. For example, HomeKit can be used to automate tasks like turning on specific lights when entering a room or playing music when waking up. Despite occasional issues and the need to learn about different app functionalities, both Text Expander and HomeKit provide valuable automation capabilities for streamlining daily tasks.
Allison Sheridan joins us to share her automation workflows. Topics include Keyboard Maestro, Hazel, and more automation tools.
This episode of Automators is sponsored by:
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- TextExpander: Your Shortcut to Efficient, Consistent Communication. Get 20% off.
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Credits
The Automators
Rosemary Orchard
David Sparks
The Editor
Jim Metzendorf
The Fixer
Kerry Provanzano
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