Thought Socks

Are to-do list managers any good?

In a word, no, but firstly, for those that don’t know, let’s clarify: a to-do list manager is a to-do list which you maintain and manage on your computer. They’ve been around for a while, but recently services like Remember The Milk and I Want Sandy have attracted more interest and publicity.

There are only two reactions to this idea, I think, and they come from two groups into which everyone can be divided: Those who take technology too far, and those who don’t. I plant my feet firmly onto the side of the fence where the latter group is camped. I draw the line at using technology for the sake of technology, when it is clearly impractical; No doubt in 50 years time, when we are all hooked up to the web via ours ears, and one eye permanently devours a constant stream of RSS feeds through the compulsary miniscule inbuilt screen inplanted into our retina at birth, while our brain-computer renders keyboards useless with its ability to hear our thoughts, a virtual to-do list may well be useful and practical. But now, in 2008, we are limited to clumsy great screens and keyboards and mice.

A virtual to-do list is slower and fiddlier than using a calender, or reaching for a pen and paper. I don’t need to install pen and paper, or to adjust my calender settings.

Maybe I’m just behind, but I don’t like them.