making.cognitive.connections
Smart Device Calendar Event/Subject Field
Originally published in Fall 2010 newsletter
The Calendar app (application) is one of the most beneficial programs available on smart devices. It allows the user to create a calendar appointment with any number of details, including:
- Appointment name
- Appointment time
- Appointment date
- Alert/reminder prior to the appointment
- Recurring appointments
- Notes related to appointment
The Making Cognitive Connections (MCC) newsletter will address each of the calendar fields in future issues. The focus here is on entering appropriate information in the calendar event/subject field. The name of the field associated with the appointment name 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 Title to represent the topic or subject of the appointment.
- Figure 2: Windows Mobile 6.5 devices use the term Subject to represent the topic or subject of the appointment.
Figure 1: iOS 4 |
Figure 2: Windows Mobile 6.5 |
Android devices use the term Event to represent the topic or subject of the appointment.
You might be wondering, "What's the big deal about entering the name of the appointment?" My experience suggests that individuals with TBI often choose an ineffective label for the event or subject of the appointment. Figure 3 suggests that appointment names can be too vague (e.g., Dr. Appointment) or too specific or unnecessarily detailed (e.g., Dr. Catherine Marie Lopez appointment).
Figure 3: Smart Device Calendar Event Descriptions: Vague vs. Specific
Appointment names that are too vague can lead to missed appointments, unnecessary phone calls, etc. For example, an appointment with the event/subject description of "Dr. Appointment" is probably too vague to be useful by the time the scheduled appointment rolls around. At the time you made it, entering "Dr. Appointment" may have seemed perfectly appropriate; after all, you had just gotten off the phone with a particular doctor's office. Unfortunately, two weeks later when the appointment reminder appears and says "Dr. Appointment," you may not remember which one of your doctors you're supposed to visit.
On the other hand, entering "Dr. Catherine Marie Lopez appointment" is probably TMI (too much information). First, unless you see more than one Dr. Lopez, it isn't necessary to enter the doctor's first and middle names. Second, the word "appointment" is redundant; everything in your calendar is an appointment of some kind. If you enter more information than necessary, it can significantly slow down the process of entering the info and ultimately frustrate you, the scheduling assistant, etc.
Ultimately, each user must find the appropriate level of detail for each event, one that will provide sufficient information, but not too much or irrelevant information. I have my students work on a legend of abbreviations that they learn to use to expedite their entry of information. For instance, most people could enter "Dr. Lopez" in place of "Doctor Appointment." These may not seem that different from one another, but if you have trouble finding letters on a keyboard or hitting the wrong letters with your fingers on a keyboard, it can make the difference between getting so frustrated that you stop using the device and continuing to use the device.
It is important that individuals with TBI identify what level of detail they need in order to successfully schedule—and keep—appointments. The necessary level of detail will vary from individual to individual and will typically require some trial and error as each user determines what works for him. The role of the professional is in assisting the individual with TBI to identify appropriate appointment descriptions and in assessing the individual's level of success as appointments come due.