Ask HN: Best uses for spaced-repetition software? | Hacker News Reader

Ask HN: Best uses for spaced-repetition software?

6 pointskcovia6 comments

Other than foreign languages, what are the best uses for SRS software, such as Anki? At the moment I'm using Anki for:

- terminal commands (I'm fairly new to coding)

- high-level English vocabulary (already a native speaker)

- Spanish, Polish, and Italian

I have used SuperMemo for the last nine years of my life to learn three languages, lots of scientific concepts I had long forgotten after leaving school, world history, jokes and countless other information. Spaced repetition is one of the coolest modern inventions and one of the best uses of computers on the human mind that I know of. It totally rocks as long as you put in effort.

I'm starting a new Anki deck to memorize the names of people I meet. When I add a new contact I usually make notes in the "other" section of my contact book but they're not very useful if I don't get reminded about it (i.e. I don't randomly bump into the person on a semi-regular basis). I have a feeling spaced recognition for remembering names is also going to help me keep in touch with people that I haven't seen in a while.

What is your question/answer structure? Do you take a photo of each person you meet?

If I've had a significant conversation with them and it's not socially inappropriate to ask for a photo, then I'll probably ask for a photo. If not, then I plan on just writing a brief description of the general circumstances that we met. E.g. "The teller at XYZ bank that helped you set up a company bank account"

Gwern has a great write-up on spaced repetition [0] which you might find useful. He addresses your questions and introduces several other considerations in addition.

[0] http://www.gwern.net/Spaced%20repetition

I honestly don't know - maybe if you posted this again in 12 hours, then 24, then 72 I might have thought of something

:-)

More seriously the names-reminder is a great idea

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