3 ms·

I'd love to see an android app, not with question-editing support but just to let me answer my questions when I'm on the road / in bed / otherwise not at my com

by gwillen 15y ago

I'd love to see an android app, not with question-editing support but just to let me answer my questions when I'm on the road / in bed / otherwise not at my computer. The lower the barrier, the more often I will succeed at answering the questions for the day. Great idea, great project. :-)

tryitnow 15y ago
I second this, a mobile app would be awesome. Of course, you already know that, I'm just expressing my opinion on it to add another data point to your feedback.
hexagonc 15y ago
The funny thing is that I applied for Y Combinator funding three years ago centered around a Blackberry app version of a similar idea. I figured you could tie in ads or shopping recommendations based on actual behavior (rather than desired behavior). Unfortunately, I didn't get funding and the idea was too half baked at the time anyway. I ended up shelving it for over two years. I resurrected the idea about 6 months ago when I learned Android development. I even built a very crude prototype. As you pointed out, however, data entry is a real problem. However, if you're willing to stick with it, these types of applications can be very powerful and useful for behavior modification because you get feedback on what you actually do. For example, if you're trying to lose weight or change a bad habit (or start a good habit) the power of actual statistical data is amazing. It's like there is another person watching everything you do that you have to be totally honest with. Just being aware of your routines at this level of precision changes you.
- gwillen 15y ago
  Indeed, I grabbed this app to record things I'm already recording. But I think a mobile app will be a big win. I have found that, if I record data points (mostly my weight) in a spreadsheet, I have trouble remembering to record every day. But if I do it on a whiteboard on the wall, it's easy. So salience and ease of use are key here.
  - pamelafox 15y ago
    I'm working on an app to help people track their progress towards better eating habits (http://everyday.io http://everyday.io), and yeah, being able to use it from wherever you are is an important feature for me. So besides the web interface, I also have an "email interface" (daily reminders, email-ins) and I'm working on the mobile interface (Android app, iOS app pending damn Apple approval). It's already hard enough to change daily habits, so it's important to make it as easy as possible to track.

by gwillen 15y ago

tryitnow 15y ago

I second this, a mobile app would be awesome. Of course, you already know that, I'm just expressing my opinion on it to add another data point to your feedback.

hexagonc 15y ago

The funny thing is that I applied for Y Combinator funding three years ago centered around a Blackberry app version of a similar idea. I figured you could tie in ads or shopping recommendations based on actual behavior (rather than desired behavior). Unfortunately, I didn't get funding and the idea was too half baked at the time anyway. I ended up shelving it for over two years. I resurrected the idea about 6 months ago when I learned Android development. I even built a very crude prototype. As you pointed out, however, data entry is a real problem. However, if you're willing to stick with it, these types of applications can be very powerful and useful for behavior modification because you get feedback on what you actually do. For example, if you're trying to lose weight or change a bad habit (or start a good habit) the power of actual statistical data is amazing. It's like there is another person watching everything you do that you have to be totally honest with. Just being aware of your routines at this level of precision changes you.

gwillen 15y ago
Indeed, I grabbed this app to record things I'm already recording. But I think a mobile app will be a big win. I have found that, if I record data points (mostly my weight) in a spreadsheet, I have trouble remembering to record every day. But if I do it on a whiteboard on the wall, it's easy. So salience and ease of use are key here.
- pamelafox 15y ago
  I'm working on an app to help people track their progress towards better eating habits (http://everyday.io http://everyday.io), and yeah, being able to use it from wherever you are is an important feature for me. So besides the web interface, I also have an "email interface" (daily reminders, email-ins) and I'm working on the mobile interface (Android app, iOS app pending damn Apple approval). It's already hard enough to change daily habits, so it's important to make it as easy as possible to track.