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To remember everything you learn, surrender to this algorithm (2008)

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Re: To remember everything you learn, surrender to this algorithm (2008)

#6
post #3

One past thread: To Remember Everything You Learn, Surrender to This Algorithm (2008) - https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=17706776 - Aug 2018 (208 comments)

Just recent enough for me to remember the shape of the article and the gist of the research, but too long ago for me to remember most of the details. :)

Re: To remember everything you learn, surrender to this algorithm (2008)

#9

Does someone have a link to some example code that implements this idea? I am working on my own memory-assistance software, I would like to use the algorithm.

Just look at an image search for "spaced repetition" and you can create it from the graphs you see.

Essentially you're creating a set of reminders/events with linear or exponential spacing between. A common pattern appears to be 1, 3, and 6 days after first learning, which is also 1, 2, and 3 days apart from each other.

Re: To remember everything you learn, surrender to this algorithm (2008)

#10
post #5

Free app based on the same idea: https://apps.ankiweb.net/ https://github.com/ankitects/anki-manual/

Anki is great... however:

... having used it for the last 4 years to try to memorize vocabulary in certain languages (Spanish & French, recently started Chinese), I think it's a base layer... (much like how Bitcoiners like to talk about BTC's Blockchain). Reasons:

  1. I've tired of it. I need a layer that makes me excited to use it.

  2. I've found it far-far less useful for learning other things than rote vocabulary memorization. It needs a layer that makes it easy to store and "pull up" everything I need to know.
That said, I don't want to sound like I'm looking a gift-horse in the mouth. Anki truly is a great piece of software, and my sincere thanks to the devs.
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