On Tue, 01 Feb 2011 09:48:48 +0000, Invisible wrote:

>>> I spent quite a long time doing that with digital filter design.
>>> Eventually I gave up due to the sheer intractability of finding
>>> anything remotely useful. (Fortunately, many years later I finally
>>> stumbled upon a very good resource by accident...)
>>
>> The trick is to train yourself to do so intentionally so finding the
>> right resource isn't accidental.  Do you have a local library?
> 
> Oh, the *library* doesn't contain any technical books. Trying to find
> anything there beyond GCSE level is a waste of time. You couldn't even
> find a book on integral calculus, much less something advanced like
> digital filter design.

It isn't always about the content the library has on hand so much as 
getting to know the librarians.  I don't know if in the UK libraries 
borrow from each other (but I suspect they do), so sometimes the material 
you are looking for is available to them even if it's not on-site.

But if you get to know the staff at the library, they're often full of 
useful information.

Besides, one really good tactic/technique when preparing a presentation 
is to use quotations - librarians (and libraries) tend to be very good at 
finding relevant information/quotes.

>>>> You need to learn to do this iteration rather than giving up after
>>>> round 1 so frequently.  You did it with your dancing classes, so
>>>> apply that to other areas in your life. :)
>>>
>>> Uh, I went to *one* dance school, and I'm still there. Not a great
>>> analogy. :-P
>>
>> Actually, it's an excellent analogy, because you determined:
>>
>> 1.  You wanted to learn to dance
>> 2.  You identified someplace that could help you do so 3.  You
>> identified the class(es) that you were most interested in 4.  You went
>> to class and learned
>> 5.  YOU KEPT AT IT
>> 6.  You are continuing to refine your skills by still going to class
>>
>> It's a perfect example of the iterative process of learning, because
>> you've gone through many iterations.
> 
> I asked my sister which school I should go to and what class to take.
> After that, I kept going because I was addicted. There wasn't a whole
> lot of effort involved. (Other than the effort of remaining upright.
> Have *you* tried dancing the Waltz? It's way harder than you'd think...)

That's exactly my point - in my list of steps above, step 2 was you 
asking your sister for advice on where to learn more.

Finding the right resource here wasn't an accident - it was purposeful, 
because you asked someone who knew how to help you move forward.

You need to apply the same strategy to other things you're researching.

Jim

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