Software to Nudge Your Memory
Sometimes I forget things. Someone will call while I’m on the other line and I’ll forget to return the call. I intend to record that special TV show, but it slips my mind. Worst of all, I sometimes forget where my appointment book is.
Apparently I’m not alone because a new category of software has emerged that is designed to, among other things, beep or send messages to remind you to do something. There is no official name for this genre yet, so I call it “nudgeware.”
I tested several programs of this sort that can be used even when you are running other software. That’s important, because you want your alarm program to be able to cut in if you are doing something like writing a letter, calculating a budget or communicating with another computer.
The software--called Desk Accessories on the Apple Macintosh and memory resident programs on the IBM PC--has an obvious drawback. For the programs to do their job, a computer may have to be on and within earshot all the time. And if you’re always on the go, none of the programs take the place of a pocket appointment book.
A popular program for the Apple Macintosh is SmartAlarms from Imagine Software. The $50 program allows you to send yourself short messages (96 characters maximum) at predetermined times.
When the moment comes, the program beeps five times and displays your message. While the message is displayed, you have the option of telling the program to stop bugging you or having it remind you again at another specified time, minutes, hours or days later.
The program comes with a companion program called Appointment Diary, which looks and acts much like the printed variety. It is broken down by day only--not by time--but there is enough room to write down all your appointments and things to do, along with notes. Because it runs in the background, you can check or modify your schedule without having to leave whatever other software you’re running. When you bring up the appointment calendar, you see a calendar display for the current and next month. You can use the mouse to click on any day on the calendar or to move quickly to another month or year.
A Single Complaint
The Appointment Diary and SmartAlarms are linked so that you can set an alarm directly from the diary. You use the mouse to highlight text in a diary message and, by pressing a key, you direct SmartAlarms to display the text and sound an alarm at, say, 6 a.m., on the day selected on the calendar.
My only complaint about the program is that it repeatedly beeps at one-minute intervals until you tell it to go away. That can be annoying to others if you leave your computer on while you are away from your desk. I’d hate to be in an office full of SmartAlarm users. Imagine President Shep Tamler acknowledges the problem and promises that the next version, due in June, will, at the user’s option, be less persistent. Free upgrades, Tamler said, will be sent to anyone buying the current version.
There are several reminder programs for IBM-style computers. Reminder Plus from Campbell Services is a sophisticated program with database management features. That way, if the program reminds you to call someone, you can find the person’s number quickly in the database. It will even dial the phone if you have a modem.
Despite persistent reminders, items on my “to-do” list have a way of slipping. This program automatically moves unfinished items to the following day so that they can haunt you once again. A companion program shows your appointments in a “week at a glance” format. Reminder Plus also can beep you up to four hours in advance to remind you of a coming appointment.
The full program sells for $239, but the company also offers a $99 Basic Reminder package that does not include the database and telephone dialing features.
Forget-Me-Not, which also runs on IBM-style computers, is billed as “the first timed-release software.” Like the other programs, it will beep at you and flash reminders, but it also will take action. At set times, the program can run other programs or user-defined sequences of commands, called “batch files.”
It also can be used to send messages to others, through a local area network or an on-line electronic mail service. You could, for example, prepare a series of memos days or weeks before distribution and let Forget-Me-Not deliver them on time. Not a bad way to remind others about coming meetings. You could even sit down and write electronic birthday greetings and let the software deliver them on the appropriate days.
Unlike the other programs, messages can be any length. The message pops up in a window on the screen whose size can be adjusted.
The program, from Sterling Castle Software, is more versatile than the others but is not as easy to use. (I evaluated a preliminary release of the software; the actual program is scheduled to be available at retail outlets later this month.) There is no menu system to guide you through creating messages. In fact, you have to use a word processor or text editor (not included) to create a message and enter the program’s required codes.
The manual recommends that it be used with SideKick from Borland International. SideKick has a memory resident word processing feature that works regardless of what other software you are running.
Forget-Me-Not, which carries a list price of $80, is great for “power users” who don’t mind using SideKick and are willing to learn its codes. To appeal to other users, the program’s publisher would be smart to include a companion program that allows users to create reminders by responding to prompts from a menu.
In addition to these special reminder programs, there are several integrated programs, including SideKick Plus from Borland and WordPerfect Executive from WordPerfect Corp., that include an appointment book with an alarm.
Sorry to end the column so abruptly, but my computer just reminded me that I have to leave for an appointment. Now, if it could only help me find my car keys.
Computer File welcomes readers’ comments but regrets that the authors cannot respond individually to letters. Write to Lawrence J. Magid, 3235 Kifer Road, Suite 100, Santa Clara, Calif. 95051, or contact the L. Magid account on the MCI electronic mail system.
ELECTRONIC REMINDERS
SmartAlarms
Published by Imagine Software, 19 Bolinas Road, Fairfax, Calif. 94930. Phone: 415-453-3944. Comes with an appointment diary. Requirement: Apple Macintosh. Suggested retail price: $50.
Reminder Plus
Published by Campbell Services, 21700 Northwestern Highway, Suite 1070, Southfield, Mich. 48075. Phone: 800-521-9314. Suggested retail price: $239. The company also offers a $99 “Basic Reminder” package without the database and telephone dialer. Requirements: IBM-style personal computer with at least 512K of random access memory and a hard disk.
Forget-Me-Not
Published by Sterling Castle Software, 702 Washington St., Marina Del Rey, Calif. 90292. Phone: 213-306-3020. Requirements: IBM-style personal computer; user must create text files using a word processor or text editor. Suggested retail price: $80. Available later this month.
Los Angeles Times