making.cognitive.connections
Smart Device Calendar Alert/Reminder Field
Originally published in Winter 2010 newsletter
The Fall 2010 newsletter focused on the Event/Subject field of the Calendar app. This edition of the newsletter addresses the Alert/Reminder field. You might be wondering why I think it necessary to write an entire article on the Alert/Reminder field. The reality is that this field is one of the most important fields within the Calendar app. Incorrectly utilizing this field can either eliminate the alert/reminder altogether (with negative consequences) or have it sound at an inappropriate time.
The name of the field associated with setting auditory reminders will vary based on the device used. As shown in the figures below:
- Figure 1: iPod Touch, iPhone, iPad, and iOS 4 use the term Alert to represent an event reminder.
- Figure 2: Windows Mobile 6.5 devices use the term Reminder to represent an appointment reminder.
Figure 1: iOS 4 |
Figure 2: Windows Mobile 6.5 |
There are several potential issues related to the use of alert/reminders:
- iOS Alert & Android Alarm fields set to "None"—As illustrated in Figure 1, the default Alert setting for the iPhone (iOS devices), as well as Android phones, is "None." This is a potential problem because most people focus on the date and time of the appointment, but skip right past the Alert field and, as a a result, neglect to set a reminder for the event.
- Windows Mobile device default set to "15 minutes"—Figure 2 shows the default reminder time for a Windows Mobile device is 15 minutes. Although Windows Mobile devices have a pre-set reminder, it can provide a false sense of security. For instance, knowing a reminder is set, but not considering the amount of time necessary to actually get to an appointment will potentially cause one to be late.
- Alert/Reminder set without appropriate lead time—Whether a default alert/reminder time is pre-set or not, one problem many individuals have relates to appropriately deciding on how much advance time is necessary for the alert/reminder. For example, I live in California and if I need to be at an appointment 30 miles away at 4:30 PM, I would need to set an alert/reminder for at least 1 hour prior to my appointment due to traffic. On the other hand, if I am on campus and have a class that takes me 5 minutes to walk to, I wouldn't need more than a 5- or 10-minute alarm/reminder, depending on what I am doing prior to my class and how long it would take me to stop what I am doing.
How long it takes you to stop what you are currently doing leads us to a related challenge shared by many individuals with cognitive challenges: perseveration, or the inability to let go of something in order to move on to something else. If perseveration is a potential issue, setting an appropriate alert/reminder is especially important. The alert/reminder serves as a prompt that it is time to discontinue what you are doing in order to be on time for the upcoming appointment. - Dismissing Alerts/Reminder prematurely—Closing or dismissing an alert or reminder is a final act. In other words, if an alert/reminder sounds and appears on the device screen, closing or dismissing it will stop that alert/reminder from sounding again. Choosing to close or dismiss the appointment before you are ready to leave for the appointment may allow you just enough time to forget all about the appointment. See device-specific details below regarding possible strategies.
Alert Specifics for iOS
The iOS devices have a limited number of options for setting Alert times (e.g., 5, 15 and 30 minutes before, etc.). The few pre-set Alert options are limiting; for instance, what if I need an alert set for 25 minutes before the event? This is where problem-solving and decision-making come into play. Although the iOS devices don't have a built-in snooze feature, if an Alert is set, a Second Alert field appears in the list of Calendar fields. The Second Alert field can be used in conjunction with the Alert field to provide multiple alerts; however, the pre-set options are the same for both Alert fields. The problem with the Alert field limitation is that the pre-set options are, in many cases, not frequent enough to be truly useful.
One solution for this issue is to download and install an app that has custom Alert options. The best program I have found to date is Pocket Informant for the iPhone. This program includes a custom Alert field, where you can enter any number of minutes, hours, days, etc. prior to the actual scheduled event. In addition, Pocket Informant for the iPhone includes a Task function, which is currently not available as a default app on iOS devices.
Alarm Specifics for Android
Android devices have several pre-set options for setting Alarm times (e.g., 5 minutes, 15 minutes, 1 hour, 1 day, etc.). In addition, Android devices have a Customize option available. This option allows the user to enter an alarm for any number of minutes, hours, days, or weeks before the scheduled event.
Reminder Specifics for Windows Phone 7
The new Windows Phone 7 has a pre-set number of reminder intervals (e.g., 1, 5, 15 minutes, etc). This is a potential problem because, as you know, there are often times when you might need a 30-minute reminder or a 50-minute reminder, or some other non-standard interval. Unfortunately, in this situation you may need to set the closest reminder interval and then snooze the reminder until it is time to act on the reminder.
Reminder Specifics for Windows Mobile 6.5
Windows Mobile 6.5 devices have several strengths when it relates to reminders.
- Although the default reminder time is 15 minutes, the actual reminder time can be set for any period of time prior to the appointment (e.g., 5 minutes, 13 minutes, 90 minutes, etc.). This is actually an advantage over the calendars found on the other devices.
- When a reminder is triggered (sounds), Windows Mobile 6.5 provides two options: Snooze and Dismiss. As mentioned previously, the Dismiss option stops the reminder from sounding and displaying on the screen again. The Snooze option, on the other hand, allows you to snooze the reminder for 5 minutes before it goes off again. This can be very handy when you are in the middle of something and can't leave at that very minute. Instead, tap the Snooze button on the screen to be assured that you will be reminded to leave again soon.
In Conclusion
The Alert/Alarm Reminder field is one of the most important and useful fields in the Calendar app. It provides the ability to set an auditory alert related to scheduled events. At this time, Android devices are the only devices that have the default ability to customize alarm times. Pocket Informant is a very good app that is available for iOS and Windows devices that includes a customization field for the Calendar. In addition, the app includes a Task app that also includes a Customize field for Task alerts/alarms/reminders.