SuperMemo 18 Help - User contributions [en]

Sleep Chart

2009-08-02T06:42:28Z

Rakoon3434:

== Introduction ==

Sleep is vital for learning. To sleep well and to learn well, you need to understand your own circadian rhythm. '''Timeline''' in SuperMemo was designed to assist you in that task. It can help you optimize the timing of sleep as well as the timing of your learning. You can inspect the timeline of learning generated automatically, and log your sleep data manually. Collecting your sleep data can be useful in understanding the link between sleep and learning.

At minimum skill level, you can use '''Timeline''' for basic visual inspection of your favorite learning and sleep hours. However, more advanced functions such as optimizing the time for learning or the time for sleep require advanced analysis and understanding of circadian rhythms. Currently, the toolset for analysing the impact of sleep on learning is very limited. However, if you start logging your sleep data today, you will be able to use future, more advanced versions of SuperMemo to study and understand your sleep and learning.

You can access '''Timeline''' with '''[[Tools]] : Timeline''' on the [[main menu]] or by just pressing ''F12''.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_and_learning_timeline.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: SuperMemo: Sleep and repetitions timeline displaying repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue)]]

<blockquote>

''Sleep blocks are marked in <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">blue</span>. Learning blocks are marked in <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">red</span>. Total learning time on individual days is displayed on the right. Selected sleep block is displayed in <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">yellow</span>. The length of that block is displayed at the bottom.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Repetitions timeline ===

The timeline of repetitions is collected automatically and is separate for each collection. Each time your make repetitions with SuperMemo, the learning block is added to the timeline (displayed in red).

=== Sleep timeline ===

The timeline of sleep must be logged manually. There is only one sleep timeline in SuperMemo (unlike repetition timelines that are separate for individual collections). If you move SuperMemo between computers, remember to move your sleep timeline as well. The timeline is stored in the ''\sleep'' subfolder of the SuperMemo folder as ''sleep.tim ''(e.g. ''d:\sm2008\sleep\sleep.tim''). This file's name and location cannot be customized. This file is compatible with SleepChart and can be opened and edited in that application independent of SuperMemo.

To log a block of sleep, click the beginning of the block (sleep start) and then click the end of the block (sleep end). You can also start from clicking the end of sleep first. Sleep blocks above 22 hours are disallowed. Sleep blocks cannot overlap with repetitions timeline (you cannot learn with SuperMemo and be asleep at the same time). If you have already collected your sleep data in [http://www.supermemo.com/articles/sleepchart.htm SleepChart], you can import this data with '''File : Import SleepChart file'''. If you import files from SleepChart, you can test for sleep and learning overlaps with '''Edit : Test for block overlaps'''. Protection from block overlaps is an important advantage of using SuperMemo over SleepChart, in which it was very easy to fall out of phase in logging data (e.g. by failing to fill out a single day and noticing that only a month later). You can mark blocks of forcefully delayed sleep, as well as mark blocks cut short with an alarm clock or other factors. Please note that you can get best analytical results if you do not artificially regulate sleep (e.g. with an alarm clock, sleeping pills, etc.). Applied models will not fully account for artificial intervention. Last but not least, natural sleep is what you should aim for in learning as well as for the sake of maximum health and well-being. Natural free-running sleep will maximize your fun in life!

== Timeline graphs ==

Currently you can use 5 analytical graphs in '''Timeline'''. This set is likely to grow in future releases of SuperMemo as more gets to be known about information that can be extracted from correlations found in sleep&learning data. If you deem the presented analytical power as insufficient today, it should not stop you from collecting sleep data. Start today! Every data point can contribute to valuable conclusions in the future.

=== Timeline ===

Timeline displays repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue). Dates and total repetition time are displayed on the right. Sleep blocks can be consolidated with '''Consolidate''' button on the toolbar. For example, if you woke up for 5-10 min. in the night, consolidation will make SuperMemo treat the entire night block as a single entity (short awakenings are a frequent occurrence, even if we are not aware of them, and have little impact on learning). Sleep optimization data can be displayed in this graph. Most importantly, two independent models are used to predict middle-of-the-night points as well as the expected optimum retirement and awakening times. Those approximations may be helpful in optimizing sleep in people who work shifts or sleep in irregular hours for various reasons. For example, after a week of irregular sleep, it may be difficult to determine the optimum retirement hour that is likely to produce best quality sleep. Going to sleep too early might result in premature awakening (which may often ruin the night sleep entirely). Going to sleep too late may result in short night sleep, sleep deprivation, and reduced alertness on the following day. Predicting optimum sleep time on the basis of sleep history is inexact science, and two models used may produce different outcomes. '''Important!''' Your natural instinct should always take precedence over mathematical models. Moreover, best results in sleep optimization are accomplished in free-running sleep. If you use an alarm clock, or force yourself awake through the night, or take sleeping pills, the models may not adequately account for the chaotic change that is occurring in your sleep control systems.

It is impossible to provide a sure&simple way of interpreting the following graphs. Only rough guidelines are provided. For more detailed interpretation, send your data to ''sleep2009(AT)supermemo(DOT)com''. Your data will be used to improve future analytics. If possible, you will also receive personal help in interpreting your results.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_and_learning_timeline_with_optimization_data.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Sleep and repetitions timeline displaying repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue) with recomputed circadian approximations on the current data]]

<blockquote>

''Computing optimum sleep hours may be useful, for example, when recovering from a night shift.<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue</span> and <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">red</span> continuous lines are predictions of optimum sleep time using the SleepChart model (based on sleep statistics). <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">Yellow continuous line</span> shows the prediction of the maximum of circadian sleepiness (circadian middle-of-the-night peak) using a phase response curve model. Note that theoretically, yellow line should roughly fall into the middle between blue and red lines. However, when a distruption of the sleep pattern is severe, those lines might diverge testifying to the fact that it is very hard to build models that fully match the chaotic behavior of the sleep control system subjected to a major perturbation. <span style="padding: 3px; border: 2px solid red; background-color: cyan;">Aqua dots</span> point to the predicted daytime dip in alertness (i.e. the time when a nap might be most productive).''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Circadian ===

Circadian graph plots your favorite sleep times as counted from natural awakening (blue homeostatic line), as well as the resulting average sleep length produced by various retirement hours (red circadian line). If you are trying to determine your optimum sleep time, see for peaks in the blue homeostatic line and choose near points that produce sufficiently long sleep (high reach of the red curve). In nappers, the blue line should also point to the maximum mid-day alertness dip. However, in this case, short naps may actually be a sign of well-timed naps (if not taken too early in reference to the blue homeostatic line).

<div class="center">

[[Image:Circadian.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Circadian graph plotting your favorite sleep times as counted from natural awakening (blue homeostatic line), as well as the resulting average sleep length produced by various retirement hours (red circadian line)]]

<blockquote>

'''''Circadian and homeostatic sleepiness'''<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue line</span> shows how often sleep is initiated at different periods after awakening (% on the vertical axis on the right). This line is a rough reflection of the homeostatic sleep drive. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> shows how long sleep lasts depending on the hour at which it was initiated (in reference to the hour of morning awakening)(hours on the vertical axis on the left). This line is a rough reflection of the circadian sleep component (i.e. the longest sleep blocks occur during the subjective night).<br /><br />In the presented example, on average, the best sleep is obtained when initiated after 18 hours from morning awakening (homeostatic peak combined with a sufficiently long sleep period). This example also shows that the good siesta time should begin 7-8 hours from awakening. For example, for an awakening at 6 am, siesta could begin at 2 pm, and the night sleep at midnight.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Phase shift ===

Phase shift graph is helpful in people practising free-running sleep who suffer from a degree of phase-shift (ASPS or DSPS). In free-running sleep, this graph will display the degree of phase-shift as well as its dependence on the time of the day.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Phase_shift.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Phase shift graph displaying the degree of phase-shift (ASPS or DSPS) as well as its dependence on the time of the day]]

<blockquote>

''<span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue line</span> indicates retirement hours. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> indicates waking hours. <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: fuchsia;">Fuchsia</span> and <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: silver;">gray</span> lines indicate siesta period. Even though the red waking line begins at the origin of the graph, it shows a substantial phase shift at later hours. The sign of the shift will depend on whether it is caused by an advanced or a delayed sleep phase shift syndrome.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Alertness ===

In a healthy individual who is not sleep deprived and who sleeps in the correct phase, the best learning results are obtained early in the morning and after a siesta. You can see how fast your alertness (and grades) drop during the day by inspecting the '''Alertness''' graph. In this graph, you can see the time that has passed since the last sleep block, and how grades change in waking. The minimum length of sleep blocks that are considered is determined by '''Min. sleep block (h)''' box (0.2 hours, or 12 min. is the default minimum sleep block taken into consideration).

If you have already collected your sleep data with [http://www.supermemo.com/articles/sleepchart.htm SleepChart], you can see your wake-grade correlation with SuperMemo 2008. However, only repetitions executed with SuperMemo 2006 (or later) will count (earlier SuperMemos did not store precise time of repetitions in repetition history).
<div class="center">
[[Image:Alertness.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Timeline : Alertness graph makes it possible for you to visually inspect how grades decrease during the waking day. It also shows the impact of circadian factors with grades slightly lower immediately after waking and slightly higher after the mid-day dip in the 9th hour]]
<blockquote>'''''Alertness''' graph makes it possible for you to visually inspect how grades decrease during the waking day. It also shows the impact of circadian factors with grades slightly lower immediately after waking and slightly higher after the mid-day dip in the 9th hour.''</blockquote></div>

=== Distribution ===

This graph tells you how long your usual sleep blocks are. For example, is it true that your sleep blocks form a multiple of 90 min. (or some similar ultradian cycle)?

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_block_distribution.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Distribution graph makes it possible for you to tell how long your usual sleep blocks are]]

<blockquote>

''Distribution of the length of sleep blocks.''

</blockquote>

</div>

== Two-component sleep model ==

SuperMemo uses a two-component sleep model inspired by the publications of Alexander A. Borbély and Peter Achermann. Unlike other models, SuperMemo uses your sleep data to predict the homeostatic and circadian status of your alertness. This may be helpful in choosing the optimum time for learning on a given day (given a particular history of sleep). This can also help you plan your sleep many hours in advance if your sleep pattern is highly irregular. The model does not predicate on the timing and duration of REM and NREM sleep episodes.

'''Important!''' This is the first release of the presented model to a wider public and should only be used for educational purposes as well as an inspiration in planning your sleep and learning. There are individual genetic differences that affect the length of the circadian cycle, steepness of the homeostatic decline in alertness, sleep length preference, sleep architecture, etc. This model is limited in accounting for these variables. If you are sleepy against the simulations based on the model, you can probably trust your own instincts better. If you feel alert against the simulations based on the model, you can certainly get down to learning and ignore predictions of the model. Moreover, sleep patterns are a good measure of your sleep control systems only if they are not artificially disturbed (e.g. by forcefully delaying sleep, using alarm clock, using sleeping pills, etc.). In other words, if you are not free running your sleep, the presented model may fail to map your circadian rhythms correctly. You can mark blocks as artificially shortened or delayed ('''Forced awakening''' and '''Delayed retirement''' on the context menu available with a right-click). However, marked blocks will have a limited effect as there is no way of knowing the degree of the cut into the sleeping patterns, and, consequently, knowing the resulting perturbation in the control system produced by artificially modified sleep.

To see the predictions of the model for any given day, make sure you have your sleep data filled out for recent days, and shift-click the day in question.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_propensity.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: The predictions of the two-component sleep model about the homeostatic and circadian status of your alertness]]

<blockquote>

'''''Two-component sleep model'''<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue blocks</span> show the actual sleep blocks. <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: aqua;">Aqua line</span> shows the 24h circadian sleep drive with a mid-day hump. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: green;">Green line</span> is an inverse of the homeostatic sleep drive and can be interpreted as homeostatic alertness. This component declines exponentially during wakefulness and is quickly restored by slow-wave sleep (for simplicity, the entire sleep block is assumed to have a contribution proportional to its length, as the model does not accounts for sleep stages). <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">Yellow vertical lines</span> show the prediction of the maximum of circadian sleepiness (circadian middle-of-the-night peak) using a phase response curve model. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> shows cumulative alertness (peaks are best for learning, valleys are best for initiating sleep). For example, Alertness on Oct 1, 2008 at 7:43 was predicted to be at 59% of the maximum but would increase fast in the first 2 hours of wakefulness (a typical symptom of a night sleep that is terminated too early).<br /><br />The picture shows two peaks in alertness on Oct 1, 2008, at 9 am and at 7 pm. Those periods would likely be best suited for learning on that day.''

</blockquote>

</div>

To see a more accurate reflection of the homeostatic decline in alertness during wakefulness, see the [[#Alertness | '''Alertness''']] tab.

= FAQ =

== You can abandon SleepChart ==

'''Question:''' I used to log my sleep into SleepChart. Once this file is imported to SuperMemo, should I abandon the SleepChart file and log sleep details directly into SuperMemo?

'''Answer:''' Yes. All SleepChart functionality has been included in SuperMemo. You can quickly get the '''Timeline''' with ''F12''. However, there is full compatibility at the file level, and you can always go back to SleepChart in the future, or introduce sleep blocks using SleepChart if it is more convenient (and does not lead to confusion). All you need to remember is to use the file at the right location: ''SuperMemoFolder/sleep/sleep.tim''. SuperMemo will always use the file at this location only.

== You need to copy sleep timeline when reinstalling SuperMemo ==

'''Question:''' I installed a new version of SuperMemo and copied my collections into that installation. However, my sleep timeline disappeared.

'''Answer:''' In addition to copying your collections, you will need to copy the following file: ''<SuperMemoFolder>\sleep\sleep.tim''. This file must be placed in the ''\sleep'' folder in the new installation.

== Gaps in Timeline ==

'''Question:''' I had been meticulously recording my sleep for about 6 months until I lost track for a couple of weeks and than began recording my sleep once more. How are such gaps in SleepChart/Timeline treated? Can anything be done afterwards to minimise the damage to the data?

Glossary:Dismissed element

2009-06-25T12:21:17Z

Rakoon3434:

'''<span id="dismissed_element">dismissed element</span>''' - [[#element|'''element''']] that is ignored in the learning process and is not kept in the [[#pending_queue|'''pending queue''']]. A '''dismissed element''' can be re-memorized with [[#Remember|'''Remember''']]

Q: Why do dismissed elements (as well as tasks, folders, etc.) have a priority? They are not part of the learning process.

Sleep Chart

2009-06-22T03:41:44Z

Rakoon3434: /* You can abandon SleepChart */

== Introduction ==

Sleep is vital for learning. To sleep well and to learn well, you need to understand your own circadian rhythm. '''Timeline''' in SuperMemo was designed to assist you in that task. It can help you optimize the timing of sleep as well as the timing of your learning. You can inspect the timeline of learning generated automatically, and log your sleep data manually. Collecting your sleep data can be useful in understanding the link between sleep and learning.

At minimum skill level, you can use '''Timeline''' for basic visual inspection of your favorite learning and sleep hours. However, more advanced functions such as optimizing the time for learning or the time for sleep require advanced analysis and understanding of circadian rhythms. Currently, the toolset for analysing the impact of sleep on learning is very limited. However, if you start logging your sleep data today, you will be able to use future, more advanced versions of SuperMemo to study and understand your sleep and learning.

You can access '''Timeline''' with '''[[Tools]] : Timeline''' on the [[main menu]] or by just pressing ''F12''.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_and_learning_timeline.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: SuperMemo: Sleep and repetitions timeline displaying repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue)]]

<blockquote>

''Sleep blocks are marked in <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">blue</span>. Learning blocks are marked in <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">red</span>. Total learning time on individual days is displayed on the right. Selected sleep block is displayed in <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">yellow</span>. The length of that block is displayed at the bottom.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Repetitions timeline ===

The timeline of repetitions is collected automatically and is separate for each collection. Each time your make repetitions with SuperMemo, the learning block is added to the timeline (displayed in red).

=== Sleep timeline ===

The timeline of sleep must be logged manually. There is only one sleep timeline in SuperMemo (unlike repetition timelines that are separate for individual collections). To log a block of sleep, click the beginning of the block (sleep start) and then click the end of the block (sleep end). You can also start from clicking the end of sleep first. Sleep blocks above 22 hours are disallowed. Sleep blocks cannot overlap with repetitions timeline (you cannot learn with SuperMemo and be asleep at the same time). If you have already collected your sleep data in [http://www.supermemo.com/articles/sleepchart.htm SleepChart], you can import this data with '''File : Import SleepChart file'''. If you import files from SleepChart, you can test for sleep and learning overlaps with '''Edit : Test for block overlaps'''. Protection from block overlaps is an important advantage of using SuperMemo over SleepChart, in which it was very easy to fall out of phase in logging data (e.g. by failing to fill out a single day and noticing that only a month later). You can mark blocks of forcefully delayed sleep, as well as mark blocks cut short with an alarm clock or other factors. Please note that you can get best analytical results if you do not artificially regulate sleep (e.g. with an alarm clock, sleeping pills, etc.). Applied models will not fully account for artificial intervention. Last but not least, natural sleep is what you should aim for in learning as well as for the sake of maximum health and well-being. Natural free-running sleep will maximize your fun in life!

== Timeline graphs ==

Currently you can use 5 analytical graphs in '''Timeline'''. This set is likely to grow in future releases of SuperMemo as more gets to be known about information that can be extracted from correlations found in sleep&learning data. If you deem the presented analytical power as insufficient today, it should not stop you from collecting sleep data. Start today! Every data point can contribute to valuable conclusions in the future.

=== Timeline ===

Timeline displays repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue). Dates and total repetition time are displayed on the right. Sleep blocks can be consolidated with '''Consolidate''' button on the toolbar. For example, if you woke up for 5-10 min. in the night, consolidation will make SuperMemo treat the entire night block as a single entity (short awakenings are a frequent occurrence, even if we are not aware of them, and have little impact on learning). Sleep optimization data can be displayed in this graph. Most importantly, two independent models are used to predict middle-of-the-night points as well as the expected optimum retirement and awakening times. Those approximations may be helpful in optimizing sleep in people who work shifts or sleep in irregular hours for various reasons. For example, after a week of irregular sleep, it may be difficult to determine the optimum retirement hour that is likely to produce best quality sleep. Going to sleep too early might result in premature awakening (which may often ruin the night sleep entirely). Going to sleep too late may result in short night sleep, sleep deprivation, and reduced alertness on the following day. Predicting optimum sleep time on the basis of sleep history is inexact science, and two models used may produce different outcomes. '''Important!''' Your natural instinct should always take precedence over mathematical models. Moreover, best results in sleep optimization are accomplished in free-running sleep. If you use an alarm clock, or force yourself awake through the night, or take sleeping pills, the models may not adequately account for the chaotic change that is occurring in your sleep control systems.

It is impossible to provide a sure&simple way of interpreting the following graphs. Only rough guidelines are provided. For more detailed interpretation, send your data to ''sleep2009(AT)supermemo(DOT)com''. Your data will be used to improve future analytics. If possible, you will also receive personal help in interpreting your results.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_and_learning_timeline_with_optimization_data.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Sleep and repetitions timeline displaying repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue) with recomputed circadian approximations on the current data]]

<blockquote>

''Computing optimum sleep hours may be useful, for example, when recovering from a night shift.<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue</span> and <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">red</span> continuous lines are predictions of optimum sleep time using the SleepChart model (based on sleep statistics). <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">Yellow continuous line</span> shows the prediction of the maximum of circadian sleepiness (circadian middle-of-the-night peak) using a phase response curve model. Note that theoretically, yellow line should roughly fall into the middle between blue and red lines. However, when a distruption of the sleep pattern is severe, those lines might diverge testifying to the fact that it is very hard to build models that fully match the chaotic behavior of the sleep control system subjected to a major perturbation. <span style="padding: 3px; border: 2px solid red; background-color: cyan;">Aqua dots</span> point to the predicted daytime dip in alertness (i.e. the time when a nap might be most productive).''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Circadian ===

Circadian graph plots your favorite sleep times as counted from natural awakening (blue homeostatic line), as well as the resulting average sleep length produced by various retirement hours (red circadian line). If you are trying to determine your optimum sleep time, see for peaks in the blue homeostatic line and choose near points that produce sufficiently long sleep (high reach of the red curve). In nappers, the blue line should also point to the maximum mid-day alertness dip. However, in this case, short naps may actually be a sign of well-timed naps (if not taken too early in reference to the blue homeostatic line).

<div class="center">

[[Image:Circadian.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Circadian graph plotting your favorite sleep times as counted from natural awakening (blue homeostatic line), as well as the resulting average sleep length produced by various retirement hours (red circadian line)]]

<blockquote>

'''''Circadian and homeostatic sleepiness'''<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue line</span> shows how often sleep is initiated at different periods after awakening (% on the vertical axis on the right). This line is a rough reflection of the homeostatic sleep drive. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> shows how long sleep lasts depending on the hour at which it was initiated (in reference to the hour of morning awakening)(hours on the vertical axis on the left). This line is a rough reflection of the circadian sleep component (i.e. the longest sleep blocks occur during the subjective night).<br /><br />In the presented example, on average, the best sleep is obtained when initiated after 18 hours from morning awakening (homeostatic peak combined with a sufficiently long sleep period). This example also shows that the good siesta time should begin 7-8 hours from awakening. For example, for an awakening at 6 am, siesta could begin at 2 pm, and the night sleep at midnight.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Phase shift ===

Phase shift graph is helpful in people practising free-running sleep who suffer from a degree of phase-shift (ASPS or DSPS). In free-running sleep, this graph will display the degree of phase-shift as well as its dependence on the time of the day.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Phase_shift.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Phase shift graph displaying the degree of phase-shift (ASPS or DSPS) as well as its dependence on the time of the day]]

<blockquote>

''<span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue line</span> indicates retirement hours. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> indicates waking hours. <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: fuchsia;">Fuchsia</span> and <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: silver;">gray</span> lines indicate siesta period. Even though the red waking line begins at the origin of the graph, it shows a substantial phase shift at later hours. The sign of the shift will depend on whether it is caused by an advanced or a delayed sleep phase shift syndrome.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Alertness ===

In a healthy individual who is not sleep deprived and who sleeps in the correct phase, the best learning results are obtained early in the morning and after a siesta. You can see how fast your alertness (and grades) drop during the day by inspecting the '''Alertness''' graph. In this graph, you can see the time that has passed since the last sleep block, and how grades change in waking. The minimum length of sleep blocks that are considered is determined by '''Min. sleep block (h)''' box (0.2 hours, or 12 min. is the default minimum sleep block taken into consideration).

If you have already collected your sleep data with [http://www.supermemo.com/articles/sleepchart.htm SleepChart], you can see your wake-grade correlation with SuperMemo 2008. However, only repetitions executed with SuperMemo 2006 (or later) will count (earlier SuperMemos did not store precise time of repetitions in repetition history).
<div class="center">
[[Image:Alertness.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Timeline : Alertness graph makes it possible for you to visually inspect how grades decrease during the waking day. It also shows the impact of circadian factors with grades slightly lower immediately after waking and slightly higher after the mid-day dip in the 9th hour]]
<blockquote>'''''Alertness''' graph makes it possible for you to visually inspect how grades decrease during the waking day. It also shows the impact of circadian factors with grades slightly lower immediately after waking and slightly higher after the mid-day dip in the 9th hour.''</blockquote></div>

=== Distribution ===

This graph tells you how long your usual sleep blocks are. For example, is it true that your sleep blocks form a multiple of 90 min. (or some similar ultradian cycle)?

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_block_distribution.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Distribution graph makes it possible for you to tell how long your usual sleep blocks are]]

<blockquote>

''Distribution of the length of sleep blocks.''

</blockquote>

</div>

== Two-component sleep model ==

SuperMemo uses a two-component sleep model inspired by the publications of Alexander A. Borbély and Peter Achermann. Unlike other models, SuperMemo uses your sleep data to predict the homeostatic and circadian status of your alertness. This may be helpful in choosing the optimum time for learning on a given day (given a particular history of sleep). This can also help you plan your sleep many hours in advance if your sleep pattern is highly irregular. The model does not predicate on the timing and duration of REM and NREM sleep episodes.

'''Important!''' This is the first release of the presented model to a wider public and should only be used for educational purposes as well as an inspiration in planning your sleep and learning. There are individual genetic differences that affect the length of the circadian cycle, steepness of the homeostatic decline in alertness, sleep length preference, sleep architecture, etc. This model is limited in accounting for these variables. If you are sleepy against the simulations based on the model, you can probably trust your own instincts better. If you feel alert against the simulations based on the model, you can certainly get down to learning and ignore predictions of the model. Moreover, sleep patterns are a good measure of your sleep control systems only if they are not artificially disturbed (e.g. by forcefully delaying sleep, using alarm clock, using sleeping pills, etc.). In other words, if you are not free running your sleep, the presented model may fail to map your circadian rhythms correctly. You can mark blocks as artificially shortened or delayed ('''Forced awakening''' and '''Delayed retirement''' on the context menu available with a right-click). However, marked blocks will have a limited effect as there is no way of knowing the degree of the cut into the sleeping patterns, and, consequently, knowing the resulting perturbation in the control system produced by artificially modified sleep.

To see the predictions of the model for any given day, make sure you have your sleep data filled out for recent days, and shift-click the day in question.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_propensity.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: The predictions of the two-component sleep model about the homeostatic and circadian status of your alertness]]

<blockquote>

'''''Two-component sleep model'''<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue blocks</span> show the actual sleep blocks. <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: aqua;">Aqua line</span> shows the 24h circadian sleep drive with a mid-day hump. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: green;">Green line</span> is an inverse of the homeostatic sleep drive and can be interpreted as homeostatic alertness. This component declines exponentially during wakefulness and is quickly restored by slow-wave sleep (for simplicity, the entire sleep block is assumed to have a contribution proportional to its length, as the model does not accounts for sleep stages). <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">Yellow vertical lines</span> show the prediction of the maximum of circadian sleepiness (circadian middle-of-the-night peak) using a phase response curve model. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> shows cumulative alertness (peaks are best for learning, valleys are best for initiating sleep). For example, Alertness on Oct 1, 2008 at 7:43 was predicted to be at 59% of the maximum but would increase fast in the first 2 hours of wakefulness (a typical symptom of a night sleep that is terminated too early).<br /><br />The picture shows two peaks in alertness on Oct 1, 2008, at 9 am and at 7 pm. Those periods would likely be best suited for learning on that day.''

</blockquote>

</div>

To see a more accurate reflection of the homeostatic decline in alertness during wakefulness, see the [[#Alertness | '''Alertness''']] tab.

= FAQ =

== You can abandon SleepChart ==

'''Q:''' I used to log my sleep into SleepChart. Once this file is imported to SuperMemo, should I abandon the SleepChart file and log sleep details directly into SuperMemo?

'''A:''' Yes. All SleepChart functionality has been included in SuperMemo. You can quickly get the '''Timeline''' with ''F12''. However, there is full compatibility at the file level, and you can always go back to SleepChart in the future, or introduce sleep blocks using SleepChart if it is more convenient (and does not lead to confusion). All you need to remember is to use the file at the right location: ''SuperMemoFolder/sleep/sleep.tim''. SuperMemo will always use the file at this location only.

'''Q:''' You say that if repetitions are executed at a time of low alertness, SuperMemo may calculate retention to be lower than it actually is. Does it yet have the capabilities to compensate for this using the data in SleepChart?

Hints&Tips

2009-06-05T23:17:16Z

Rakoon3434:

== Beginner level ==

*To [[Add new|add a new question-answer item]] to SuperMemo press ''Alt+A'' and type in the texts. Use ''Esc'' to move from the question field to the answer field and to finish
*To review your learning material choose ''Ctrl+L'' or press the '''[[Learn]]''' button
*To search for all elements containing a given string, press ''Ctrl+F'', type the string, and press ''Enter''
*The key ''Esc'' is used throughout SuperMemo to close windows, dialog boxes, and to restore defaults such as the default layout, presentation state, default element, etc.

== Basic level ==

*To move from the beginner level to the basic level, choose '''[[File menu|File]] : [[Levels|Level]] : Basic'''
*To see the calendar of repetitions, press ''Ctrl+W'' (same as '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Workload]]''' on the [[Main menu]])
*To quickly open a collection with a keystroke, use ''Ctrl+O''. Use the button '''Choose another''' to add your most important collections to the list
*To master all fundamental skills needed to effectively use SuperMemo, read: [[Step-by-step to SuperMemo mastery|Step-by-Step Guide to SuperMemo]]
*If you are overloaded with repetitions, you can mark your most important elements as top-priority elements. They will receive a priority in learning. Use ''Alt+P'' to set elements [[Priority of elements in incremental reading|priority]]. For example, press ''Alt+P'' and then press ''2'' to tell SuperMemo that the presented element is more important than 98% of the remaining elements
*To move an element to another branch in the [[Contents window]], press ''Ctrl+Shift+V'', select the new location in the tree and choose '''Accept''' (or ''Enter'')
*To send an element via e-mail press the e-mail button on the [[Element toolbar]]
*Apart from simple question-answer repetitions, SuperMemo supports ''incremental reading'' - a technique that makes reading and learning yet more efficient. Read more: [[Incremental reading]] (see also [[#Incremental_reading|Incremental reading tips]] below)
*To completely remove an element from the learning process, choose the button [[Glossary#dismiss|'''Dismiss''']]. This will make the element invisible to the learning process, but still available for browsing, search, etc. During repetitions, when button '''Dismiss''' is not visible, you can choose ''Ctrl+D'' to dismiss the current element. To completely delete the element from the collection choose ''Shift+Ctrl+Enter'' ('''Done'''). To delete the element and all its children, choose ''Shift+Ctrl+Del'' (simple ''Del'' will also work in most contexts)
*To edit texts in the currently displayed element, click the text or press ''Q'' (question), ''A'' (answer), ''E'' or ''Ctrl+E'' (edit all fields), etc. To edit texts with a click, '''Tools : Options : Mouse : Edit texts : On click''' must be checked (default)
*If you suspect that some of the files in your collection have been damaged, press ''Ctrl+F12'' and make a quick [[File - Repair collection|checkup]] of your most important files

== Middle level ==

*To maximize your learning efficiency<span style="display: none" id="1241567158769S"> </span>, read [http://supermemo.com/articles/decalog.htm SuperMemo Decalog]
*You can use layouts to preserve your favorite location and size of windows. Arrange the windows the way you like it and choose '''[[Window menu|Window]] : Layout : Save as default''' or simply press [[Keyboard shortcuts|''Shift+Ctrl+F5'']]. You can always come back to this layout with ''Ctrl+F5''. In many contexts, repeated ''Esc'' will have the same effect
*To change the interface font used by SuperMemo, press ''Ctrl+Alt+O'', and choose '''[[Fonts tab in Options|Fonts]] : Interface font'''
*To move an element to another [[Glossary#collection|collection]], press ''Shift+Ctrl+T'' and choose the target collection
*To create or modify the structure of the knowledge tree, read: [[Creating a knowledge tree structure in the contents window|Knowledge tree]]
*A green-yellow layout button on browser and contents toobars helps you quickly align the current window with the element window (for easy browsing or working with the knowledge tree)
*If you change the color of your element, or the size of the components, or their type, etc. you can preserve the "new look" by using templates. Save the present look as the default template with ''Ctrl+Alt+M'' ('''Template : Save as default''' on the [[Element menu]]). Use ''Shift+Ctrl+M'' to apply a new template. Read more: [[Templates|Using templates]]
*If you want '''Add new''' (''Alt+A'') to add elements only to a given branch in the [[Contents window|contents window]], select this branch in the contents window and press ''Ctrl+K''. This will create a new category in that branch. To change the category in use, choose in the category combo box on the [[Tools toolbar|'''Tools''' toolbar]]. Use ''Shift+Ctrl+P'' to move an element to another category by changing the '''Category''' field. Read more: [[Categories|Using categories]]
*If you want to learn only the material belonging to a selected [[Glossary#hierarchy_node|branch]] in the [[Glossary#contents_window|contents window]], choose this branch and click [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review)|'''Learn''']] at the bottom of the [[Contents window|contents window]] (i.e. not in the [[Element window]]). See: [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review)|Subset learning]]
*In editing texts, you can use ''Shift+Enter'' to start a new line single-spaced as opposed to double-spaced ''Enter''. This will work only in HTML components and will inserts the ''<br>'' tag as opposed to the ''<p>'' tag
*You can turn your collection into a jukebox. Run a music video from YouTube in a loop and hide SuperMemo in the notification area by choosing '''[[Window menu|Window]] : Hide SuperMemo''' (''Shift+Ctrl+G''). Be sure you open all SuperMemos <span id="fck_dom_range_temp_1241567158421_278" />you plan to use as starting a new instance of SuperMemo always takes the copy from that area first.

== Professional level ==

*To display all learning [[Statistics window|statistics]], press ''F5''
*To sweep away those pesky toolbars, press ''Alt+F5''. Return to your original layout with ''Ctrl+F5''
*If you prefer to use keyboard as opposed to the mouse, read about [[Keyboard shortcuts]]
*If you had a break in learning and cannot cope with outstanding repetitions, use '''[[Learn menu|Learn]] : [[Postpone|Postpone]]''' or '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Mercy]]'''. You can also use '''Mercy''' if you plan to go for vacation and stay away from the computer. You can do a portion of your repetitions in advance
*To locate and get rid of the most difficult or badly-structured material use '''[[View menu|View]] : Other : Leeches''' or '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : [[Options]] : [[Leeches]] : Wizard'''. Read more: [[Leeches|Leeches in SuperMemo]]
*If you would like to move your repetitions to another SuperMemo, read about [http://supermemo.com/articles/soft/pocket.htm XML in SuperMemo]
*If you want to move an element to the end of the queue of elements awaiting memorization, choose the button [[Glossary#forget|'''Forget''']] (during [[Glossary#repetition|repetitions]], when this button is not visible, you can choose ''Ctrl+R'' to accomplish the same). This will delay the introduction of the element into the learning process until the time when all elements from the [[Glossary#pending_queue|pending queue]] have been reviewed
*To turn on and off the [[Status bar]], check or uncheck '''[[Window menu|Window]] : [[Status bar]]'''. The same refers to toolbars used in SuperMemo
*To introduce the currently displayed [[Glossary#element|element]] into the learning process press [[Keyboard shortcuts|''Ctrl+M'']] or choose [[Glossary#remember|'''Remember''']] at the bottom of the [[Element window]]. Note that ''Ctrl+M'' during [[Glossary#repetition|repetitions]] is equivalent to re-memorizing the element and re-starting repetitions all over again starting with short intervals. You should use this option in case you substantially reedit the item. This will let SuperMemo know you are dealing with an entirely new piece of information
*To randomize repetitions on a given day, use ''Shift+Ctrl+F11'' ('''[[Learn]] : Random : Randomize repetitions''')
*If you would like basic stats displayed on the status bar during repetitions (e.g. interval, priority, etc.), turn off hints by unchecking '''[[Window menu|Window]] : Hints''' (or by double-clicking the yellow Hints display area in the status bar)
*You can turn your collection into a jukebox. Run a music video from YouTube in a loop and hide SuperMemo in the notification area (colloquially known as the system tray). Be sure you open all SuperMemos you plan to use as starting a new SuperMemo always takes the copy from the area first.

== <span id="Incremental_reading">Incremental reading</span> ==

*To paste an article from your web browser to SuperMemo: (1) switch to the browser, (2) select the text (e.g. with ''Ctrl+A''), (3) copy the text to the clipboard (e.g. with ''Ctrl+C''), (4) switch back to SuperMemo (e.g. with ''Alt+Tab''), (5) press ''Ctrl+Alt+N'' in SuperMemo
*To quickly create an extract from the selected text in an article, use ''Alt+X'' (the same shortcut can be used to create [[Visual learning|picture extracts]] and [[Incremental video|video extracts]])
*To quickly create a cloze deletion from an extract you are reviewing in SuperMemo, press ''Alt+Z''
*To manually type in some notes use ''Alt+N''
*To quickly import many articles (or selections in articles) from Internet Explorer, use ''Shift+Ctrl+A'' ('''Edit : Import web pages : All'''). You can also use this option to import links, pictures, live pages and more
*To import articles from Wikipedia, press ''Shift+Ctrl+W''
*To import videos from YouTube, press ''Shift+Ctrl+Y''
*To quickly get images embedded in local pages imported from the net and put them to the image registry, use ''Ctrl+F8'' ('''Download images''' on the [[Component menu]])

[[Image:Download images.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Download images dialog box that makes it possible for you to get images embedded in local pages imported from the net and put them to the image registry (in the picture: The Year 2008 in Photographs from Boston.com)]]

*To quickly search the net for terms and concept used in your collection, press ''Ctrl+F3''. By default you can search most popular dictionaries, encyclopedias or use the most effective search engines. However, you can also define your own one-key searches of specific databases, e.g. of movies, musicians, freeware software, mp3 files, news, newsgroups, and more. For example, if you want to search for movies in the Internet Movie Database add the following line to your search tools file with '''Define your own tools''': ''&Movies, <nowiki>http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q="%TheText%"+imdb</nowiki>''
*To ensure the optimum proportion between reading and repetitions choose '''Learn : Sorting : Sorting criteria''' and set '''Proportion of topics'''
*To review the material belonging to a single subject, open the subject in the [[Browser]] (e.g. by searching for elements with ''Ctrl+F''), and use '''Learning : Learn''' (''Ctrl+Alt+L''), '''Learning : Review topics''' or '''Learning : Review all''' from the [[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser)|subset processing menu]]. '''Review topics''' will let you review topics related to the subject. '''Review all''' will additionally force mid-interval repetition of all items in the subset (except those that have already been repeated today). '''Learning : Learn''' includes only the outstanding material in the review. See: [[Subset learning (Learn vs. Review)|Subset learning]]
*To postpone all outstanding articles (topics) use: (1) '''[[View menu|View]] : Outstanding''', (2) '''Child : Topics''' ([[Browser menu]]), and (3) '''Learning : Postpone''' ([[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser)|subset processing menu]] or [[Keyboard shortcuts|''Ctrl+Alt+P'']]). You can use this procedure each time you run out of time for repetitions. This way, you will be able to spend your last minutes on making repetitions of items (see: [[Glossary#active_recall|active-recall]])
*To postpone all items in a branch (e.g. ''To Do'' branch): (1) choose this branch in the [[Contents window]], (2) choose '''View : Branch''' ([[Contents menu]] or ''Shift+Ctrl+Enter''), (3) '''Child : Items''' ([[Browser menu]]), and (3) '''Learning : Postpone''' ([[Processing multiple elements (Process collection/branch/browser)|subset processing menu]] or [[Keyboard shortcuts|''Ctrl+Alt+P'']])

Q: From experience, the most important skill (and hence the hardest) in SuperMemo is the ability to formulate knowledge, hence the importance of the article on the "20 Rules". However, when experimenting with new subject areas, it would save users a considerable amount of time if there was a database of example items - e.g. such as those for english learning at antimoon.com. Does such a page currently exist on these pages?

Incremental video

2009-06-05T23:07:22Z

Rakoon3434:

== Incremental video with SuperMemo 2008 ==

Incremental video is a technique for learning or watching video material. On the face of it, it looks like channel-zapping on steroids. However, it is also a powerful learning technique that makes it easy to process thousands of videos at the same time without getting lost. It also makes it easy to learn individual video scenes for long-term retention. It can be used to learn sports, master musical instruments, understand biology, or learn fun dialogs in your favorite movies. Individual videos are processed in small portions. Viewing can be resumed at any time at the last viewing position. Best pieces are preserved for repeat viewing. Individual vidoes are prioritized and served on a daily basis in manageable portions in order of priority. Incremental video in SuperMemo 2008 uses [http://youtube.com YouTube] as the main source of its video material.

[[Image:Incremental video.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Incremental video in action - Incremental learning about DNA wrapping and replication based on a video imported from YouTube]]

== For users of SuperMemo ==

SuperMemo is a pioneer in implementing versatile incremental video. For those who are familiar with incremental reading (also pioneered by SuperMemo), incremental video is an analogous technique. Instead of text extracts, you generate video extracts that form a portion of a larger video. Video extracts are viewed repeatedly in increasing intervals, as is the case with other pieces of information in SuperMemo.

Individual videos and their extracts are treated in the same way as all other topic elements and enter the learning process according to the rules that are known from [[incremental reading]]:

[[Image:Professional level.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Incremental video in action - Watching the historic North Pole swim by Lewis Gordon Pugh]]

== General idea ==

This is how you work with incremental video in SuperMemo 2008:

#open your favorite YouTube videos in Internet Explorer
#choose YouTube import option to import videos to SuperMemo ('''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : [[Import web pages]] : YouTube''' (''Shift+Ctrl+Y''))
#use '''Learn''' to process individual videos
#use '''Start''' and '''Stop''' buttons to mark interesting scenes
#use '''Extract''' to generate new elements with scenes marked with '''Start''' and '''Stop''' (see below)
#use learning tools of SuperMemo to prioritize, schedule, and organize videos and video extracts
<div class="center">
[[Image:Incremental video Extract.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: An extract created from the "Pirates of Silicon Valley - Part 4" YouTube video in the process of incremental video watching]]
<blockquote>''An extract from the "Pirates of Silicon Valley " (yellow  color in the template is used to differentiate between extracts and parent videos) . SuperMemo will play the fragment between the start time of 8 min. 43 sec. and the stop time of 9 min 8 sec. (of the original YouTube video). The checkmark near the '''Test''' button indicate that the fragment should be played in a loop. On the right, you can see the description of the video imported from the YouTube database. In pink, you can see references generated automatically (when importing videos with '''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : [[Import web pages]] : YouTube''' (Shift+Ctrl+Y)). Both the video description and the references are propagated from the original video element to all video extracts.''</blockquote></div>
You can easily work with thousands of videos at the same time and never get lost, never get bored, or ever miss a valuable scene. You can also use SuperMemo as your video or music jukebox. You can work with individual videos for mere seconds. Just as much as is needed to set the new viewing point, determine the priority and determine the date of the next viewing. This way, you can process dozens of videos daily and work with thousands of videos in parallel. You shall feel overwhelmed with the richness of YouTube never again!

== YouTube ==

Incremental video in SuperMemo 2008 is based on [http://youtube.com YouTube]. You can still use local video files, but these slow down the program, take lots of space, and are not as easy to use with incremental video (due to the poorly developed toolset). You can capitalize on the video streaming power of YouTube and speed up SuperMemo (even though you may suffer video lags on weaker Internet connections). You will also dramatically save on hard disk space. Videos are notorious hogs of space, your YouTube collections will take a tiny fraction of space. They will actually take less space than incremental reading collections while carrying lots of learning power. If your network is slow or frequently down, you should take comfort in the fact that this situation is likely to change for the better as networks improve worldwide all the time (and this progress is not likely to be slowed soon). Last but not least, SuperMemo will encourage you to upload your favorite videos to YouTube and thus share them with other users of SuperMemo. It would be helpful if you marked them as suitable or specifically destined for incremental video by including "incremental video" text in the description.

== Importing videos ==

To import videos for incremental learning do the following:

#open YouTube videos in Internet Explorer
#choose '''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Import web pages : YouTube''' (or just press ''Ctrl+Shift+Y'')
#optionally, set import options (e.g. which videos to import, video priority, name of the import node in the knowledge tree, etc.)
#click '''Import'''

[[Image:YouTube import.jpg|center|800px|SuperMemo: Importing videos featuring Richard Dawkins from YouTube for incremental learning]]

== Viewing videos and learning ==

Use '''Learn''' in the same way as when learning with SuperMemo. The videos start automatically. When you get bored or would like to watch other videos, press '''Start''' to mark the point from which you will resume the video next time you see it. If you find an important fragment that you would like to learn or view again, press '''Start''' at the beginning of the fragment, and '''Stop''' at the end of the fragment. Use '''Test''' to view the fragment again. Press '''Extract''' if you would like to create a new fragment that should take part in the learning process as a separate element.

You can use '''Mark''' and '''Resume''' to set a bookmark that will not affect the point from which video starts (e.g. when preparing an extract).

You can generate extracts without interrupting the viewing process. Extract elements are generated only when you move on to the next element or when you press ''Alt+X''.

== Exemplary videos ==

Incremental video is a video equivalent of [[Incremental_reading|incremental reading]]. However, there are many things you may wish to learn that are best learned with video and cannot be substituted with incremental reading. The list is truly endless. However, these are a few examples just to give you the first sense of why incremental video is an important complement to incremental reading:

*learn a foreign language with the help of movies, speeches, lectures, etc.
*learn recent history with archive footage
*learn to play a musical instrument using video tutorial produced by experts or best players
*learn to play along or sing along your favorite songs
*use Mike Phelps videos to learn how to swim butterfly
*recover from injuries by learning physiotherapeutic exercises
*watch movies incrementally
*listen to your favorite music
*watch historic sports events
*watch video lectures from reputable universities
*enjoy or learn the best jokes or comedy pieces by Leno, Connan, Jon Stewart, and others
*master speechmaking with videos of MLK, JFK or Obama
*seek motivation from Tony Robbins or other self-help gurus
*learn to cook
*relive memorable moments in the lives of your family and friends
*learn physiology, geology, physics, or history, wherever a video explanation is needed

== Problems ==

Here are some problems you may encounter when learning with incremental video:

*''Alt+Left'' shortcut is used by Internet Explorer to return to the previously visited page. As a result, it also works like an Undo for your '''Start:Stop''' setting. To return to the previous page in SuperMemo, use the '''<''' button on the element toolbar
*''Enter'' in the extract dialog will extract portion of video and move to the next element. If you want to keep adding extracts, use '''OK''' instead
*it may happen that your network is down or the Internet is slow when working with YouTube videos. You may therefore prefer to first experiment with a dedicated incremental video collection to learn how to handle videos and prevent interruptions to learning in cases of network problems. You can always stop working with your incremental video collection, return to your regular learning, and resume video learning when the network returns to normal functionality
*if you would like to use SuperMemo as your YouTube jukebox, you should also keep music videos in a single collection (or mark them all with a specific keyword for fast subset learning). You can later hide your jukebox collection in the system tray. Your jukebox will play only the selected fragments of individual videos in order of priority as specified in your sorting criteria. As in incremental reading, using intervals and priorities is a good remedy against getting bored with a given song or video
*vidoes cannot be played in SuperMemo if embedded video is blocked. Those videos you can only watch in YouTube. This means, it will be hard to view them incrementally; however, you can still use prioritization and scheduling tools to choose which videos should be played in which sequence and on which day
*for technical reasons, some videos (roughly one in a thousand) cannot be watched incrementally (they will ignore extracts and always play in their entirety); some can show large rounding errors for extract precision (around 10% of videos can only be watched in large increments). These estimation are valid for winter 2009
*some videos may display loading errors on first entry. Right-click over the video and choose '''Refresh''' to reload. If the error reoccurs, use the link in references on the right to visit the original page at YouTube. Some videos are removed for copyright violations or other reasons. In such cases, you will lose the orginal video as well as all extracts (they are not stored locally). Sometimes, video authors decide to disable embedding, and this will also prevent videos from showing inside SuperMemo

== Your own incremental video script ==

Videos are handled with the help of [http://code.google.com/apis/youtube/js_api_reference.html YouTube Player API] in HTML components using a small JavaScript program. When you first run SuperMemo, it writes this script into a file stored in the ''BIN'' subfolder of the folder in which you installed SuperMemo. The name of the file is ''yt.htm''. If you know JavaScript, you can substitute your own incremental video script in that file (e.g. to change the layout, size of buttons, or even add new functions for processing videos). Here are the only components of the script that you need to preserve:

*the order of INPUT fields (these are used by SuperMemo to collect extract boundaries)
*SELECT and OPTION fields for generating extracts
*INPUT field with YouTube video ID substituted by SuperMemo (''id="videoid"'')
*INPUT field that determines the position of video start and end (''id="startvideoat"'' and ''id="stopvideoat"'')(must be "0:00:00")

If you would like to share your own script with others, you can upload it to [http://wiki.supermemo.org SuperMemoPedia], or the [http://help.supermemo.org/index.php?title=Incremental_video_with_SuperMemo_2008 wiki version of this page].

Q: What happens if a video gets removed from YouTube? You can't really count on them being up there forever. Perhaps there should be a way to localise the most important fragments?

Sleep Chart

2009-06-04T23:05:13Z

Rakoon3434:

== Introduction ==

Sleep is vital for learning. To sleep well and to learn well, you need to understand your own circadian rhythm. '''Timeline''' in SuperMemo was designed to assist you in that task. It can help you optimize the timing of sleep as well as the timing of your learning. You can inspect the timeline of learning generated automatically, and log your sleep data manually. Collecting your sleep data can be useful in understanding the link between sleep and learning.

At minimum skill level, you can use '''Timeline''' for basic visual inspection of your favorite learning and sleep hours. However, more advanced functions such as optimizing the time for learning or the time for sleep require advanced analysis and understanding of circadian rhythms. Currently, the toolset for analysing the impact of sleep on learning is very limited. However, if you start logging your sleep data today, you will be able to use future, more advanced versions of SuperMemo to study and understand your sleep and learning.

You can access '''Timeline''' with '''[[Tools]] : Timeline''' on the [[main menu]] or by just pressing ''F12''.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_and_learning_timeline.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: SuperMemo: Sleep and repetitions timeline displaying repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue)]]

<blockquote>

''Sleep blocks are marked in <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">blue</span>. Learning blocks are marked in <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">red</span>. Total learning time on individual days is displayed on the right. Selected sleep block is displayed in <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">yellow</span>. The length of that block is displayed at the bottom.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Repetitions timeline ===

The timeline of repetitions is collected automatically and is separate for each collection. Each time your make repetitions with SuperMemo, the learning block is added to the timeline (displayed in red).

=== Sleep timeline ===

The timeline of sleep must be logged manually. There is only one sleep timeline in SuperMemo (unlike repetition timelines that are separate for individual collections). To log a block of sleep, click the beginning of the block (sleep start) and then click the end of the block (sleep end). You can also start from clicking the end of sleep first. Sleep blocks above 22 hours are disallowed. Sleep blocks cannot overlap with repetitions timeline (you cannot learn with SuperMemo and be asleep at the same time). If you have already collected your sleep data in [http://www.supermemo.com/articles/sleepchart.htm SleepChart], you can import this data with '''File : Import SleepChart file'''. If you import files from SleepChart, you can test for sleep and learning overlaps with '''Edit : Test for block overlaps'''. Protection from block overlaps is an important advantage of using SuperMemo over SleepChart, in which it was very easy to fall out of phase in logging data (e.g. by failing to fill out a single day and noticing that only a month later). You can mark blocks of forcefully delayed sleep, as well as mark blocks cut short with an alarm clock or other factors. Please note that you can get best analytical results if you do not artificially regulate sleep (e.g. with an alarm clock, sleeping pills, etc.). Applied models will not fully account for artificial intervention. Last but not least, natural sleep is what you should aim for in learning as well as for the sake of maximum health and well-being. Natural free-running sleep will maximize your fun in life!

== Timeline graphs ==

Currently you can use 5 analytical graphs in '''Timeline'''. This set is likely to grow in future releases of SuperMemo as more gets to be known about information that can be extracted from correlations found in sleep&learning data. If you deem the presented analytical power as insufficient today, it should not stop you from collecting sleep data. Start today! Every data point can contribute to valuable conclusions in the future.

=== Timeline ===

Timeline displays repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue). Dates and total repetition time are displayed on the right. Sleep blocks can be consolidated with '''Consolidate''' button on the toolbar. For example, if you woke up for 5-10 min. in the night, consolidation will make SuperMemo treat the entire night block as a single entity (short awakenings are a frequent occurrence, even if we are not aware of them, and have little impact on learning). Sleep optimization data can be displayed in this graph. Most importantly, two independent models are used to predict middle-of-the-night points as well as the expected optimum retirement and awakening times. Those approximations may be helpful in optimizing sleep in people who work shifts or sleep in irregular hours for various reasons. For example, after a week of irregular sleep, it may be difficult to determine the optimum retirement hour that is likely to produce best quality sleep. Going to sleep too early might result in premature awakening (which may often ruin the night sleep entirely). Going to sleep too late may result in short night sleep, sleep deprivation, and reduced alertness on the following day. Predicting optimum sleep time on the basis of sleep history is inexact science, and two models used may produce different outcomes. '''Important!''' Your natural instinct should always take precedence over mathematical models. Moreover, best results in sleep optimization are accomplished in free-running sleep. If you use an alarm clock, or force yourself awake through the night, or take sleeping pills, the models may not adequately account for the chaotic change that is occurring in your sleep control systems.

It is impossible to provide a sure&simple way of interpreting the following graphs. Only rough guidelines are provided. For more detailed interpretation, send your data to ''sleep2009(AT)supermemo(DOT)com''. Your data will be used to improve future analytics. If possible, you will also receive personal help in interpreting your results.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_and_learning_timeline_with_optimization_data.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Sleep and repetitions timeline displaying repetitions blocks of the current collection (in red) and sleep blocks (in blue) with recomputed circadian approximations on the current data]]

<blockquote>

''Computing optimum sleep hours may be useful, for example, when recovering from a night shift.<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue</span> and <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">red</span> continuous lines are predictions of optimum sleep time using the SleepChart model (based on sleep statistics). <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">Yellow continuous line</span> shows the prediction of the maximum of circadian sleepiness (circadian middle-of-the-night peak) using a phase response curve model. Note that theoretically, yellow line should roughly fall into the middle between blue and red lines. However, when a distruption of the sleep pattern is severe, those lines might diverge testifying to the fact that it is very hard to build models that fully match the chaotic behavior of the sleep control system subjected to a major perturbation. <span style="padding: 3px; border: 2px solid red; background-color: cyan;">Aqua dots</span> point to the predicted daytime dip in alertness (i.e. the time when a nap might be most productive).''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Circadian ===

Circadian graph plots your favorite sleep times as counted from natural awakening (blue homeostatic line), as well as the resulting average sleep length produced by various retirement hours (red circadian line). If you are trying to determine your optimum sleep time, see for peaks in the blue homeostatic line and choose near points that produce sufficiently long sleep (high reach of the red curve). In nappers, the blue line should also point to the maximum mid-day alertness dip. However, in this case, short naps may actually be a sign of well-timed naps (if not taken too early in reference to the blue homeostatic line).

<div class="center">

[[Image:Circadian.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Circadian graph plotting your favorite sleep times as counted from natural awakening (blue homeostatic line), as well as the resulting average sleep length produced by various retirement hours (red circadian line)]]

<blockquote>

'''''Circadian and homeostatic sleepiness'''<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue line</span> shows how often sleep is initiated at different periods after awakening (% on the vertical axis on the right). This line is a rough reflection of the homeostatic sleep drive. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> shows how long sleep lasts depending on the hour at which it was initiated (in reference to the hour of morning awakening)(hours on the vertical axis on the left). This line is a rough reflection of the circadian sleep component (i.e. the longest sleep blocks occur during the subjective night).<br /><br />In the presented example, on average, the best sleep is obtained when initiated after 18 hours from morning awakening (homeostatic peak combined with a sufficiently long sleep period). This example also shows that the good siesta time should begin 7-8 hours from awakening. For example, for an awakening at 6 am, siesta could begin at 2 pm, and the night sleep at midnight.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Phase shift ===

Phase shift graph is helpful in people practising free-running sleep who suffer from a degree of phase-shift (ASPS or DSPS). In free-running sleep, this graph will display the degree of phase-shift as well as its dependence on the time of the day.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Phase_shift.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Phase shift graph displaying the degree of phase-shift (ASPS or DSPS) as well as its dependence on the time of the day]]

<blockquote>

''<span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue line</span> indicates retirement hours. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> indicates waking hours. <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: fuchsia;">Fuchsia</span> and <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: silver;">gray</span> lines indicate siesta period. Even though the red waking line begins at the origin of the graph, it shows a substantial phase shift at later hours. The sign of the shift will depend on whether it is caused by an advanced or a delayed sleep phase shift syndrome.''

</blockquote>

</div>

=== Alertness ===

In a healthy individual who is not sleep deprived and who sleeps in the correct phase, the best learning results are obtained early in the morning and after a siesta. You can see how fast your alertness (and grades) drop during the day by inspecting the '''Alertness''' graph. In this graph, you can see the time that has passed since the last sleep block, and how grades change in waking. The minimum length of sleep blocks that are considered is determined by '''Min. sleep block (h)''' box (0.2 hours, or 12 min. is the default minimum sleep block taken into consideration).

If you have already collected your sleep data with [http://www.supermemo.com/articles/sleepchart.htm SleepChart], you can see your wake-grade correlation with SuperMemo 2008. However, only repetitions executed with SuperMemo 2006 (or later) will count (earlier SuperMemos did not store precise time of repetitions in repetition history).
<div class="center">
[[Image:Alertness.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Tools : Timeline : Alertness graph makes it possible for you to visually inspect how grades decrease during the waking day. It also shows the impact of circadian factors with grades slightly lower immediately after waking and slightly higher after the mid-day dip in the 9th hour]]
<blockquote>'''''Alertness''' graph makes it possible for you to visually inspect how grades decrease during the waking day. It also shows the impact of circadian factors with grades slightly lower immediately after waking and slightly higher after the mid-day dip in the 9th hour.''</blockquote></div>

=== Distribution ===

This graph tells you how long your usual sleep blocks are. For example, is it true that your sleep blocks form a multiple of 90 min. (or some similar ultradian cycle)?

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_block_distribution.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: Distribution graph makes it possible for you to tell how long your usual sleep blocks are]]

<blockquote>

''Distribution of the length of sleep blocks.''

</blockquote>

</div>

== Two-component sleep model ==

SuperMemo uses a two-component sleep model inspired by the publications of Alexander A. Borbély and Peter Achermann. Unlike other models, SuperMemo uses your sleep data to predict the homeostatic and circadian status of your alertness. This may be helpful in choosing the optimum time for learning on a given day (given a particular history of sleep). This can also help you plan your sleep many hours in advance if your sleep pattern is highly irregular. The model does not predicate on the timing and duration of REM and NREM sleep episodes.

'''Important!''' This is the first release of the presented model to a wider public and should only be used for educational purposes as well as an inspiration in planning your sleep and learning. There are individual genetic differences that affect the length of the circadian cycle, steepness of the homeostatic decline in alertness, sleep length preference, sleep architecture, etc. This model is limited in accounting for these variables. If you are sleepy against the simulations based on the model, you can probably trust your own instincts better. If you feel alert against the simulations based on the model, you can certainly get down to learning and ignore predictions of the model. Moreover, sleep patterns are a good measure of your sleep control systems only if they are not artificially disturbed (e.g. by forcefully delaying sleep, using alarm clock, using sleeping pills, etc.). In other words, if you are not free running your sleep, the presented model may fail to map your circadian rhythms correctly. You can mark blocks as artificially shortened or delayed ('''Forced awakening''' and '''Delayed retirement''' on the context menu available with a right-click). However, marked blocks will have a limited effect as there is no way of knowing the degree of the cut into the sleeping patterns, and, consequently, knowing the resulting perturbation in the control system produced by artificially modified sleep.

To see the predictions of the model for any given day, make sure you have your sleep data filled out for recent days, and shift-click the day in question.

<div class="center">

[[Image:Sleep_propensity.jpg|800px|SuperMemo: The predictions of the two-component sleep model about the homeostatic and circadian status of your alertness]]

<blockquote>

'''''Two-component sleep model'''<br /><br /><span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: blue;">Blue blocks</span> show the actual sleep blocks. <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: aqua;">Aqua line</span> shows the 24h circadian sleep drive with a mid-day hump. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: green;">Green line</span> is an inverse of the homeostatic sleep drive and can be interpreted as homeostatic alertness. This component declines exponentially during wakefulness and is quickly restored by slow-wave sleep (for simplicity, the entire sleep block is assumed to have a contribution proportional to its length, as the model does not accounts for sleep stages). <span style="padding: 3px; background-color: yellow;">Yellow vertical lines</span> show the prediction of the maximum of circadian sleepiness (circadian middle-of-the-night peak) using a phase response curve model. <span style="padding: 3px; color: white; background-color: red;">Red line</span> shows cumulative alertness (peaks are best for learning, valleys are best for initiating sleep). For example, Alertness on Oct 1, 2008 at 7:43 was predicted to be at 59% of the maximum but would increase fast in the first 2 hours of wakefulness (a typical symptom of a night sleep that is terminated too early).<br /><br />The picture shows two peaks in alertness on Oct 1, 2008, at 9 am and at 7 pm. Those periods would likely be best suited for learning on that day.''

</blockquote>

</div>

To see a more accurate reflection of the homeostatic decline in alertness during wakefulness, see the [[#Alertness | '''Alertness''']] tab.

Question: I used to log my sleep into SleepChart. Once this file is imported to SuperMemo, should I abandon the SleepChart file and log sleep details directly into SuperMemo?

Tasklist manager

2009-06-02T23:20:16Z

Rakoon3434:

''Tasklist manager'' available from '''[[Tools menu|Tools]] : Tasklist''' (e.g. by pressing ''F4'') can be used to edit, prioritize and sort tasklists and all sorts of to-do lists. For example, your prioritized shopping list can be kept in SuperMemo as a tasklist. To be sure that you go on with your major investments starting with those of highest benefit, you might list your planned purchases using price of the purchase in the '''Time''' field and, for example, daily time savings in minutes in '''Value'''. You could also use other measures of value. For example: degree of satisfaction from the purchase, the maximum price you would be ready to pay, or annual return on investment, etc. This approach would make sure that you never waste your time or money on petty impulse purchases. With tasklists, you can always be sure that you proceed methodically starting from the most valuable investments. Last but not least, tasklists are invaluable for those studying at school or university, where most learning material is not presented in electronic form (e.g. in paper textbooks). In such cases, subject topics (e.g. "Pythagoras' theorem", "Kennedy assasination", etc.) must be prioritised before importing to SuperMemo (in contrast to the incremental reading process, which allows prioritisation after importing). For example, if you have 20 minutes to study, you can spend 3 minutes importing tasks, and 17 minutes importing the learning material, as prioritised by your tasklist. During the importing stage you may either choose to manually type in the most important material, or else simply see if you can find an electronic version of it.

SuperMemo development to-do list also has a form of a tasklist. In the picture, you can see a portion of 3777 tasks from SuperMemo 2008 tasklist: 

[[Image:Tasklist.jpg|center|589px|SuperMemo: Tasklist manager displaying the SuperMemo 2008 implementation list where individual to-do tasks are sorted by their priority as determined by the ratio of the value of a given task divided by the time necessary to complete it]]

Basic operations:

*To edit a selected field, click it, type in a new value and press ''Enter''.
*To sort the tasklist choose ''Ctrl+S''.
*To [[Element parameters dialog box|edit the parameters]] of a task, choose ''Ctrl+Shift+P'' in the same way as you do it in the element window (or ''Ctrl+E'' as in '''[[Plan|Plan]]'''). Note that you need to press '''OK''' to save the parameters (''Esc'' will cancel the changes).

Here are the most important controls on the tasklist manager toolbar:

*'''Tasklist combo box''' - list of available tasklists. If you select another tasklist, it will be displayed in the tasklist manager and ready for editing
*'''Menu''' - tasklist manager menu (see [[#tasklist_manager_menu|below]])
*'''Add task''' - add a new task to the current tasklist
*'''Sort tasks''' - sort the tasklist by priority
*'''Jump''' - close the tasklist manager and view the selected task in the element window
*'''Find task''' - find a task containing a given string
*'''Delete task''' - delete the currently selected task
*'''Export''' - export tasklist into an HTML file
*'''Home''' - go to the first element in the tasklist
*'''End''' - go to the last element in the tasklist
*'''Close''' - close the tasklist manager

The <span id="tasklist_manager_menu">tasklist manager menu</span> provides the following options:

*'''View''' (''Ctrl+Enter'') - view the selected task in the element window
*'''Jump''' (''Shift+Ctrl+Enter'') - close the tasklist manager and view the selected task in the element window
*'''Dismiss task''' (''Ctrl+D'') - dismiss the selected task and move it to the tasklist archive (as defined in '''[[Search menu|Search]] : Tasklists''' in the '''Archive''' field)
*'''Memorize task''' (''Ctrl+M'') - introduce the selected task into the learning process
*'''Edit parameters''' (''Shift+Ctrl+P ''or ''Ctrl+E'') - edit task parameters (value, time, priority, deadline, etc.)
*'''Add task''' (''Ctrl+Alt+A'') - add a new task to the current tasklist
*'''Sort''' (''Ctrl+S'') - sort the tasklist by priority
*'''Find task''' (''Ctrl+F'') - find a task containing a given string
*'''Find next''' (''F3'') - repeat the last search initiated with '''Find task'''
*'''Select tasklist''' (''Ctrl+Alt+T'') - select another tasklist for viewing, editing, sorting, etc. and display it in the tasklist manager
*'''Go to''' - select another element in the tasklist
**'''Random jump''' (''F11'') - jump to a randomly selected task (e.g. for fast tasklist review)
**'''Selected row''' (''Ctrl+G'') - jump to a selected row in the tasklist manager
*'''Tools'''
**'''Open in browser''' (''Shift+Ctrl+B'') - put all tasks from the currently opened tasklist in the browser
**'''Export as HTML''' - export the tasklist as an HTML file
**'''Export as text''' - export the tasklist as a text file
**'''Import text''' - import a text file tasklist exported with '''Export as text'''
**'''Transfer task''' (''Ctrl+T'') - transfer task to another tasklist. First time you transfer a task, SuperMemo will ask you to select a new tasklist from the tasklist combo box. Next time, SuperMemo will ask if the task should be transferred to the tasklist that was the last target of a task transfer
**'''Transfer tasklist''' - transfer the entire tasklist to another tasklist (for the purpose of tasklist merging)
**'''Verify tasklist''' - verify the integrity of the tasklist
*'''Close''' (''Esc'') - close the tasklist manager

<br>

If you plan to use more than one tasklist in one collection, you should also learn about using [[Categories]]. Here are the steps to keep your shopping list in SuperMemo (as a separate category):

#Choose '''[[File menu|File]] : New collection''' to create a new collection. Name it ''Shopping''
#Choose '''[[Edit menu|Edit]] : Create tasklist'''
#Choose the location in the knowledge tree where you want to store your tasklist and click '''Next'''
#Name your tasklist category (e.g. ''Shopping'') and click '''Next'''
#Click '''Finish'''
#Note that at this point your current category is''Shopping'' and your current tasklist is ''Shopping''. You can see it on the [[Toolbar dock|'''Tools''' toolbar]]
#Press ''F4'' to open the tasklist manager
#Choose '''Add task''' (''Ctrl+Alt+A'') to add your first item on the shopping list
#Type ''New computer'' in the '''Description''' field
#Type ''30'' in the '''Value''' field. Let us assume that your new computer will save you 30 minutes per day on average
#Type ''1.5'' in the '''Time''' field. We will assume that your computer will cost you $1500
#Press ''Enter'' and note that the '''Priority''' field is now set to 20. As ''priority=value/time'', you will know that every thousand dollars spent on your new computer will earn you 20 minutes per day. Note also that strangely we assigned time to value and value (price) to time. This is to express the fact that the interpretation of the '''Value''' field is as profit while the interpretation of the '''Time''' field is as cost
#Add more items that you want to purchase with '''Add task''' and sort the list with '''Sort tasks'''

If this is your first experience with the approach based on ''priority=value/time'', the order of your shopping list may be a surprise!

For exemplary tasklists and their use, see: [http://supermemo.com/articles/tasklists.htm Break free from work overload!]

----

'''<span id="FAQ">FAQ</span>'''

[[#Instinctive|Determining tasklist valuation becomes instinctive in time]]<br>[[#502-2102|Tasks can be scheduled on a specific date]]<br>[[#5946-6123|Estimating task value is up to the user]]<br>[[#20811-5689|Deadlines in tasklists are not impassable]]<br>[[#Reading_list|Reading lists]]<br>[[#6534-1004|Virtual knowledge market can help you with tasklists]]<br>[[#6261-1449|Do not use the numbering column in the task manager to double-click tasks]]

----

'''Deadlines in tasklists are not impassable'''<br>''(MM, Netherlands, Monday, February 09, 2004 11:39 PM)''<br>'''<span id="20811-5689">Question</span>''':<br>I would like to see a possibility of giving an alarm message when the deadline of a certain task in the tasklist has been reached<br>'''Answer''':<br>Your proposition would quarrel with the concept of a tasklist. The underlying principle is that you never do things if there are things with a higher efficiency tab (i.e. value/time). Tasklists should ideally be deadline-less. What deadlines do in the present implementation is to reduce the value of tasks before a certain moment in time. For example, if a task makes little sense before a certain date (e.g. assembling software modules before all individual components arrive), the deadline will degrade the position of a task on the tasklist. If the deadline is reached and the task still does not come top on the list, by definition, the tasks of higher priority should be executed. Naturally, some projects may be strongly time-dependent and as such not suitable for being managed via tasklists. Tasklists are primarily suitable for handling massive numbers of deadline-less and independent tasks. See also: [[#502-2102|Scheduling tasks with incremental reading]]

----

'''Estimating task value is up to the user'''<br>''(Reinhard, Germany, Thursday, July 26, 2001 12:06 PM)''<br>'''<span id="5946-6123">Question</span>''':<br>You mention the value of tasks. How do I know how much a task is worth?<br>'''Answer''':<br>Estimating value of tasks is entirely up to you. The simplest approach is to ask yourself a question: ''How much would I be ready to pay for having this task done?'' For example, how much would I be ready to pay to have this article read and processed? Value estimation is a skill that is worth developing independent of SuperMemo. Is your time valuable enough not to pick up a nickel? Or perhaps not? Is the value of comfort high enough to justify a bus fare or should you just walk two bus stops? Or perhaps the walk has an added health value? We must make similar estimations on a daily basis to function efficiently. This is why a little training with SuperMemo will probably not be wasted time

----

'''Do not use the numbering column in the task manager to double-click tasks''' ([[#6261-1449|#6261]])<br>''(Zoran Maksimovic, Fri, Aug 31, 2001 19:47)''<br>'''<span id="6261-1449">Question</span>''':<br>Double-clicking on the number of an individual task results in opening the selected task instead of the one I have clicked on <br>'''Answer''':<br>Yes. As the number column does not change the selection, you should rather double-click anywhere else on the task to ensure the clicked task gets opened

----

'''<span id="Instinctive">Determining</span> tasklist valuation becomes instinctive in time'''<br>''(Prof. Chris Houser, Japan, March 16, 2000)''<br>'''Question''':<br>In reference to [http://supermemo.com/articles/tasklists.htm How to break free from work overload]: It seems to me that the greatest difficulty in the presented approach is in assigning values. For example, in case of SuperMemo features, you could value each feature as the number of email messages requesting the feature. This is comfortingly exact. But it's wildly inaccurate! I believe that Time Management authors have recognized this difficulty of pinning down exact numbers, and so recommend the A B C prioritization scheme<br>'''Answer''':<br>The process of assigning values becomes quick and intuitive with a dose of training. If it is not accurate, it is still more accurate than the A B C scheme. For example, in choosing the value of a given feature in SuperMemo, many criteria will be taken into account with the overall intent to maximize the benefit to the user. Very often, new features are introduced without customer requests (e.g. tasklists!). Others, despite significant customer pressure, will not be included (e.g. many repetition rescheduling options have been proposed and rejected due to their potentially harmful effects on the results in learning). An average man in the street often takes similar multicriterial decisions without much effort. For example, if you would like to take a week vacation on Hawaii, you will quickly make an overall valuation of benefits and reject offers that seem too pricey. Valuating tasks, with some training, is equally automatic and straightforward

----

'''Tasks can be scheduled on a specific date'''<br>''(hudson, Poland, Monday, October 16, 2000 10:14 PM)''<br>'''<span id="502-2102">Question</span>''':<br>Some tasks need to be executed on certain dates. Giving the tasks higher priority or using the deadline option may be a substitute, but this makes it impossible to see the tasks in a weekly table, etc. I would like SuperMemo to take care of this<br>'''Answer''':<br>You can combine tasklists with [[Incremental reading|incremental reading]]. Tasks can be scheduled in the learning process. If you keep tasks in a separate collection, you can also view the number of tasks scheduled on a given day or month. You can prioritize individual tasks via incremental reading, via tasklist or using both mechanisms. For example, you can use incremental reading to back up the tasklist mechanism. This way you can execute tasks down the list of priority, but still take time to review some lower priority tasks. Those selectively reviewed tasks may then have their priority upgraded, be deleted, be built upon (e.g. if tasks take part in a creative process) or simply be executed

----

'''<span id="Reading_list">Reading list</span>'''<br>''(Luis Gustavo Neves da Silva, Brazil, Sep 17, 1999)''<br>'''Question''':<br>What is the difference between a reading list and a tasklist?<br>'''Answer''':<br>Reading list is a special case of a tasklist. All tasklists are sorted sets of tasks. Each task is composed of: title/description, priority and task body. In reading list, the body of the task has a form of a single article (e.g. [http://supermemo.com/articles/read.htm imported from the Internet]). You can use tasklist in the [http://supermemo.com/articles/tasklists.htm management of to-do lists]. A reading list is your prioritized to-do sequence of most important articles you want to read. However, with the advent of [[Incremental reading]], the role of reading lists is declining. Incremental reading eliminates the greatest weakness of reading lists: difficulty in estimating the value of articles before actually reading them. Incremental reading makes it possible to continually update article valuations as reading progresses

----

'''Virtual knowledge market can help you with tasklists'''<br>''(Reinhard K. Koehler (neusob), Germany, Saturday, August 11, 2001 1:06 PM)''<br>'''<span id="6534-1004">Question</span>''':<br>You suggest that tasklist valuations can be used to prioritize material for learning. But for categorizing the material in a exam there is no market! So how do I evaluate the prices?<br>'''Answer''':<br>You can create a virtual market in your mind. Imagine that you use your spending power for shopping for knowledge. You go to individual shops offering "''Biology at $X''" or "''Mathematics at $Y''". You must answer the question: "''How much money would I be ready to pay for instantly memorizing this piece of learning material?''" Would you pay $100,000 for a 5-page article on cancer? Or would it rather only be $0.1? In most cases the answer will fall in-between. With time you will hone your valuation skills and assign values effortlessly. Clearly, one buyer is enough to make a market. Virtual knowledge sellers will adapt prices to your demand. The demand is up to you. It is determined by your spending power and your need for new knowledge