We’re working on some exciting developments in the Grainchek chat module but until then, there are already some unique functions. The team did a great job making it possible to share a Grainchek feed within a chat thread.

While I’m chatting with a friend I can tap the first button in the message field and select a feed to share with this user. Even if I have already shared the feed with the user, this function will drop a card into the thread that both of us can tap on to access the feed. It’s a great way to quickly share, analyze and discuss feeds. If the feed contains time that should be accumulated with others, it can then be added as a subfeed.

Tapping the second button allows me to share individual events to the Grainchek chat thread. The card that is dropped into the conversation contains details of the event including the photo, time stamp, duration, message and task.

In this video as I use the tree totter to trim, cut and relocate another spruce beam, I can track the time, share a feed and discuss. I have made a few feeds from the base camp public so everyone can follow along on the progress in Grainchek.

Grainchek in the office: When I’m working from home I use Grainchek similar to when I’m in the field. The day starts with pressing the big green “START” button. Then I use task camera icons to take photos of my computer work at different stages in the process. Finally I use feeds to share, collect and quantify the time spent. Now I need to find the radius of the ceiling at a given location, with a given ceiling pitch and given ceiling height. c=1/2e

The Teeter-Totter works great! It’s very challenging to know how a new idea is going to work. I recognized the challenge: Trees will need to be removed. Then an opportunity: Trees can be used as beams. Then another challenge: I need to get the tree up on top of the posts. Then another opportunity: The tree is really close to the height I need it right where is stands. Next challenge: I need an apparatus that can connect the dots… The development of Grainchek as a useful tool has a similar pattern of challenge and opportunity!

The apparatus I’m calling the Teeter-Totter (it’s really fun to say!) will serve a few purposes. The first purpose is to provide staging for delimbing and inspecting the first spruce tree to become a beam. While tackling the task of preparing the spruce tree to become a beam, I share the basic sequences within Grainchek of tracking my time during the day: Pressing the Start button in the proper project. Using the camera icon from the proper task button. Recognizing that the task selected is for the work I have been doing.