Universally compatible with
all Apple devices
Picture Scheduler
Picture Scheduler fills a unique need in the autism community. This universal iPad app acts as a visual reminder system for anyone, autistic or not, that needs to be reminded to perform tasks. It's not made by RonCo, but you can indeed set it and forget it!
What exactly does Picture Scheduler do? It reminds you when to do a task - any task. You set it up and choose what day and time you want to be notified. You can make it recurring. You can choose or snap a picture to associate with the task, and you can even record video to show how to do the task. Or you can record audio.
So you've set up a task or two. Maybe your son needs to review his sight words at 10:30am, but until then he'll be engrossed with the oscillating fan in your living room. The iPad is sleeping, the screen is black and it's somewhere nearby. Picture Scheduler is running in the background, just like you want it to. When 10:30 comes around you hear a pleasant little beeping for just a moment and the iPad wakes from its slumber displaying, on the lock screen, the task reminder with a little note you've added and the Picture Scheduler icon. Now, your son touches the icon and slides his finger to the right and "Poof!" it takes him directly into Picture Scheduler where he can touch to view/hear any details you've associated with the task.
If, for some reason, you didn't hear the beeping the first time, you can set Picture Scheduler to snooze. What does that mean? It's just like the snooze button on your alarm clock, except you don't have to reach your arm out from under the blankets to smack a button. Snooze on Picture Scheduler is smarter. It knows you didn't view the details of the task the first time, and so it will beep again to re-remind you. The snooze interval is setup by you ahead of time.
Let me be the devil's advocate here; But iOS 5 has that nice little "Reminders" app built-in with the operating system! Yes, but it's very limited when compared to Picture Scheduler. The Reminders app doesn't let you record video, audio, or use images. It also doesn't automatically archive your old tasks in case you want to use them again down the road... and Picture Scheduler does all that stuff.
The developer, Petr Jankuj, also has a tutorial online to help you figure things out with the app. (http://www.jankuj.com/PictureScheduler.pdf) That's always appreciated! I'm sure it will be updated.
You can create folders to organize tasks and you can share tasks via iTunes file sharing. Want to view video full screen? No problem!
When using Archived tasks, you cannot edit the task to add video or sound when you re-use it. That should be changed. Also, when video or audio is associated with a task, and the alert has already been triggered, when you enter Picture Scheduler I think it should have a pop-up that tells you that you missed the activity and asks if you would like to view it now? If you missed multiple activities it should list them, up to a maximum of maybe ten or so. But, I should note, a similar list is already displayed on the lock screen if you haven't unlocked the iPad since the alert.
This wonderful app could be especially good for teenagers and adults with ASD who need help remembering tasks and who need visual instruction each time. I don't know of any other app that does quite what Picture Scheduler does. Like I said, it fills a unique need. A visual reminder system is something a lot of youth and adults with autism could really use. Now if the developer could just make an arm come out of the iPad to tap on our shoulder as a reminder!
