Monday, November 7, 2011

iOS app review: It's Done! A new task manager for clients with mild memory difficulties.

It's Done! is available for $2.99 at the App Store
Have you ever wondered whether a "to do" app for clients with mild memory impairments exists? It's done is a task manager that lets people manage daily activities. It has the power to send immediate "completed" notifications to caregivers (or clinicians), making behaviour tracking easy.

On the upside, the app is well designed and simple to use. It displays the current time, date and day of the week, and tasks can be added, organized and edited easily. They can be made recurrent, and reminders can be set easily. Other useful features include having easy access to past or future events, and the ability to check off completed items.

On the downside, the app only provides one reminder. It can also get cluttered as there is no task auto-hide feature. Finally, the app has the potential to "leak" sensitive information and cause patients distress if the wrong contact information is entered for notifications. Caregivers and clinicians should pay special attention to this and discuss how to take steps to reduce risks.

I highly recommend this application as it is unique and can be used by anyone who is distractible or who have memory difficulties.  I would love to see case studies which examine whether the app leads to measurable changes in patients’ life satisfaction, functioning, and memory and caregiver stress. I suspect that the app could be used in more severe cases if proper training and tools are provided (e.g.: Svoboda, E., Richards, B., Polsinelli, A., & Guger, S. (2010). Neuropsychological Rehabilitation).

To download the app or obtain more information visit the developers website [here]
The it's done app can be downloaded [here]

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for your great review of the It's Done! app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. We appreciate the thoroughness of your evaluation and your high recommendation of the app.

    We are planning to build in the capability for the app to create multiple reminders for a single task without having to set up the task multiple times (example: Take Medication reminders at 9AM, 2PM, 8PM, etc.).

    We're also looking at allowing the user to hide/unhide Tasks through the app's Settings screen. However, our original intent was for all tasks (Done and Not-Done) to be visible at all times on the daily Task View screen. An auto-hide feature might help keep the Task View from looking cluttered, but if one does not immediately see a task (waiting to be done or already checked) or has to activate an additional "View Hidden Tasks" function, etc., it might make things a little more complicated for the user.

    Simplicity is the key to the It's Done! app. So when someone thinks, "Did I turn off the stove?" they simply open the app and immediately see a check-mark next to the task (or the absence thereof) confirming whether they completed it.

    We're continuing to evaluate ways to improve the It's Done! app and will let you know of app updates whenever they're launched.

    We'll be grateful for any additional comments users post here, at our website www.itsdoneapp.com, or at the iTunes AppStore.

    A.J. Lester

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