| One of the most vivid symbols of modern man is | | | | still busy family members say a lot about its |
| the image of finger with a ribbon tied around it. | | | | effectiveness. |
| That image symbolizes a reminder, of not | | | | But it was only a matter of time before |
| forgetting a chore, a task or an event. | | | | technology would bring about another shift in the |
| One of the dilemmas of modern man is the need | | | | time management and reminder systems. The |
| for reminders. We are faced with so many | | | | advent of personal computers had a lot to do |
| responsibilities, chores and roles that sometimes | | | | with this gradual shift to electronic equipment for |
| we forget the details. But it is precisely this failure | | | | the task of giving people reminders. Operating |
| to remember that could bring a negative | | | | systems gradually included alarm, appointment and |
| consequence to the many responsibilities that we | | | | reminder functions that are easy to use and |
| have to juggle around. We have to be effective in | | | | operate. For the more mobile solutions, one of the |
| our responsibilities and forgetting is not an option. | | | | earliest progenitors was the Apple Newton, |
| It is because of this that we have a strong need | | | | Apple's doomed foray into mobile computing. |
| to look for various ways to remind us of the | | | | The first really successful electronic-based time |
| details. | | | | management and reminder system were the |
| The evolution of instruments and strategies for | | | | Palm handhelds. The easy to use interface, the |
| reminders has gone a long way. During the more | | | | portability, and the mobility were the qualities that |
| low-tech years, one of the more effective | | | | made it an overwhelming success. It's all in one |
| methods used was by either circling important | | | | functions (address book, reminders, appointments, |
| events in our calendars at home or taking note of | | | | word processing, games) made it very attractive |
| the reminder in a small notebook. These are good | | | | to many people especially those who need the |
| instruments but it also had its limitations, most | | | | power of a computer in a form factor that would |
| especially with the calendar-at-home method | | | | allow them to bring it on the field. The introduction |
| because you obviously cannot bring it with you. | | | | of Pocket PC's |
| Busy mothers as well as working professionals | | | | The internet age has now brought another |
| are not always in one place so there was a | | | | significant change. The desire of mobile solutions |
| gradual but increased emphasis on mobility and | | | | has taken a different road with online reminder |
| mobile solutions for reminders. | | | | services that can be found on the internet. This is |
| Because of the new mobility factor, diaries and | | | | a more pervasive form of reminding because not |
| filofaxes became in vogue. The added benefit of | | | | only can it be accessed anywhere there is an |
| a filofax system is that you not only get to bring | | | | internet connection (which is practically |
| the reminders with you, important data like | | | | everywhere because of WiFi and internet |
| addresses and contact details of clients, friends | | | | hotspots), these online reminder services have a |
| and family members. For a long time, the filofax | | | | unique feature in that it can send email reminders |
| system and other variants like the Franklin Planner | | | | to a person's mailbox on a daily basis. The |
| became the standard for effective time | | | | reminder function now has a level of interactivity |
| management and reminders. The fact that this | | | | and pro-activeness that was missing from other |
| system became firmly entrenched not only in | | | | previous solutions. |
| corporate culture but also among home-bound but | | | | |