By Jeff Pugh
I’m absolutely terrible when it comes to remembering names. My wife recognizes that I will hardly ever remember someone’s names, so we have a routine set up for introducing her to someone I’ve already met. She loves me so much that often she’ll take the blame for not remembering a name, saving me from embarrassment. In fact, I am so bad at recalling names that when I found this app and tried to tell my colleagues about it I forgot its name.
See, I need the help.
Enter Namerick. The iPhone app is designed to improve your memory of people’s names by using repetition and mnemonics modeled from studies on human memory. Working on the “three R’s of memory”, the app allows you to quickly record (first R) the person’s name and a few notes about them before helping you retain (second R) their name. Through scientifically researched intervals, Namerick will send you reminders at 10 minutes, one hour, five hours, 24 hours, five days and two weeks to help you retain the name. You can change these intervals in the settings, of course, if you are better at remembering names than I am.
Lastly, Namerick sets itself up to allow you to easily retrieve (third R) names with a detailed search functionality. If you can remember only that you met someone at a library, for example, type ‘library’ and Namerick will find the appropriate person.
I’ve been using it now for a few weeks, and I must say that I’ve found it to be incredibly helpful. As long as I remember your name long enough to enter it into my phone, chances are I’ll remember you the next time we meet. You know, at the library.
Photo Courtesy of “Man of the House”.
