ConFigures

Context

Associative memory plays a big role in information retrieval. What context we’re in when we start trying to process new information (or search for old) can dramatically affect how it’s stored or what comes up first in the search.

For instance, today we had a potluck at work. Lots of folks brought festive food such as crockpot chili, vat-fried turkey, samosas, artichoke dip, broccoli casserole, and so on (I brought sliced zucchini, carrots, and ginger dressing). It was a great feast, and fun sitting around and talking about photography and vacation plans with some of the IT folks and scientists I don’t get to work with much. Late this afternoon, I did my corporate-citizen duty and spent a few minutes throwing away some of the more biodegradable items that had been sitting out for five hours. After I got back to my desk, a co-worker stopped by, and asked,

“Chickens are frozen?”

I paused, unsure what to tell him. Some are, some aren’t. Or was he asking whether someone had stuffed the remains of the Buffalo wings in the freezer? But why would he care? He’s a vegetarian!

Then the penny dropped, and I switched context to my part-time configuration management role, and asked, “Did you just ask me if CHECK-ins are frozen?”

Yes, it turned out he had some changes he wanted to check in, and knew I’d been working on a build earlier that day, and wanted to make sure that his activities wouldn’t interfere with mine. Check-ins, not chickens.