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Using cameraphones to GetThingDone

29.Sep.2007

Steve Rubel just mentioned a good way to keep track of items. He uses his iPhone’s camera to photograph an object that will remind him of what he had to do. Then he just runs through it’s visual to do list whenever he needs. He explains his methods on his article:

By ajalil at Flickr.

Here’s an example. When I run out of cleaning supplies, I don’t make a shopping list. I snap a photo of the empty container with my iPhone (however any old cameraphone will do). Then I email it into Flickr, which is free. I mark all the photos as private. In addition, I tag them “todo”. Oh and the emails get backed up into the Gmail nerve center since I use their SMTP server. I could probably add a filter and a label here too.

I’m not sure if this technique can be very productive, although Steve did mentioned it’s more fun that just writing a note. Most to do things I usually have on my lists can’t be photographed, specially when it comes to software development, but routine tasks like buying something or borrowing a CD to a friend might be a perfect match for visual to do lists.

Now that I thing about it, it’s perfect for a wishlist though. There’s nothing like going to a shop and taking a picture of that book I won’t buy until I read the ones I have been piling up, or maybe a piece of furniture you saw on some friends house and felt in love with. Not sure if you can freely take pictures on stores though.

Mobile phones cameras are pretty normal in these days so this seems like a good idea for everyone who agrees that taking a picture is quicker than writing a few words, and that images are easier to remember than text.

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