Followup on Usability

Before continuing any further, I would like to share a brief anecdote. This week I had a large exam in my Into to Solid State Chemistry class. As a result, I stayed up until 3AM on several evenings studying, studying, and not sleeping. As a result, other work piled up. Now it is Friday, and I have half a week's worth of Calculus homework, as well as homework modeling CO2 changes in the atmosphere, and catching up (by doing all the optional homework I haven't done) in Newtonian Physics.

How could this have been avoided?

• Done all optional homework when it was assigned
• Allocated enough time for calculus and physics each day, so by Friday(or should I say Thursday Evening), all is completed
• Planned ahead

Although the above is a simple list in theory, it is hard actually put it into practice. A system needs to be established to enable a smart time management with the minimum of effort. Many software and physical products have attempted to solve this, using tables, and prioritized checklists, some even with partial completion, sub tasks, and a sleuth of very interesting and potentially useful features. However, using a such a task managing system takes a level of skill and time management skills that the average user of said system probably doesn't have in the first place. This is not to say that all users of task lists are incompetent, but rather to suggest that the non fluid nature of a task list makes it a difficult solution in the real world.

How about this: A task list that does all the hard stuff for you?

• It knows what class you are in (From a pre-determined schedule, GPS, or from a brief list of defined classes)
• It knows when most things are due (If it's a 18.01 pset, then Friday)
• It knows how long they take (from analyzing past data)
• It dynamically readjusts your schedule to match a set of parameters
• For example: No more than 4 hrs of work per day. No homework Friday. Bedtime is 2AM. Large projects will skew this.
  

Here's how this might work out in the real world:
(Brief functional specification)
Scenario: In 18.01 lecture on Monday
Task: Add Pset to list

How it plays out:

Joe takes out his spiffy phone, opens the superTodoList app and clicks the large "New" button. Immediately a list of categories shows up, with 18.01 at the top. He clicks it, and then sees a list of possible assignments (Psets, quiz, exam), and clicks Pset. The next screen immediately shows several buttons with dues dates. The first box is highlighted with Fridays date. The other boxes say "Tomorrow","Tuesday","Wednesday", and "Other". Joe clicks Friday, and the app returns to it's home screen.

Scenario: Sitting Down to do Homework
Task: Do a good amount of homework
How it plays out: Joe takes out his phone, opens the superTodoList app, and sees a bunch of tasks on the home or "Today" screen. He sees 18.01 Pset for 30 minutes, study for 8.01 quiz for 30 mins, and finish Essay for 21W.732 for 3 hrs, which is bright red,and at the top of the list. He quickly explains "Oh $#!T!!!", clicks on the "Do It" button next to the Essay assignment and a timer starts counting. He works for an hour or so deciding what to write about. He finally comes up with an idea, and finishes his essay in 2 hrs 15 minutes. He opens his phone, and clicks the big "DONE!" button. He notices it is 1 AM and decides to go to sleep.

Unbeknownst to him, his phone automatically increased his 18.01 Pset allowance for the following two day by 15 minutes.

--- TO BE CONTINUED --