Web Calendar-Cell Phone Tools

Submitted by pmcgovern on Thu, 01/17/2008 - 23:43.

"Lost time is never found again"
--Benjamin Franklin

I. Introduction
Cell phones are popular communication tools. Their text messaging capabilities provide interesting PDA functionality. They can interact with web based Calendar (Google 1) and Short Message Service (Short) applications to allow scheduling, event notifications, driving directions and other information from the Internet. Text messaging is usually less expensive than web access for cell phones. This case study focuses on the Google Calendar application and all generic cell phones.

II. WCC Process Overview
Setup:

  1. Sign up for a Gmail account (Create).
  2. Create a Google Calendar (Google).
  3. Add your cell phone number to your calendar account settings page.
  4. Add cell phone notifications within your account settings.
  5. If your cell phone is "syncML" compatible you could synchronize your cell phone calendar with Google Calendar (GooSync).

Usage:

  1. Post your appointments, birthdays and other important events in the calendar. Mark re-occurring events as needed.
  2. Create your personal Google Home Page and add your Google Calendar and email "gadgets".
  3. Only delete Calendar notifications from your cell phone when they have been completed. Your text message inbox is your "TODO"
    list!
  4. Send appointments to your Google Calendar from your cell phone (Google 2)..
  5. Learn and use SMS text messaging to get important information when you need it.
  6. If your cell phone is not "syncML" compatible, print your calendar periodically, and put in your wallet or purse. To print a smaller sized calendar:
    • Open Google Calendar in the month you want to print and click on the printer icon next the Day view tab.
    • The print icon will download the calendar as a PDF file, open this file.
    • Copy the calendar to the "clipboard" by clicking on the "snapshot" tool (camera icon).
    • Open your favorite word processor application.
    • Paste the clipboard contents into the open document.
    • Click on the calendar and resize it as needed.
    • Print the calendar, cut to size as needed.

III. Time Management Tool Requirements: WCC Comparison
Ranking Scale: Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, Very Poor.
Must Have Features:

  • The tool must allow convenient access and modifications to the schedule.

    • Score: Good.
    • Pros: The WCC model allows the user to view/edit the
      calendar online or synchronize with the cell phone calendar if it is
      "syncML" compatible. New events can be easily added via the cell
      phone.
    • Cons: Most phones are not "syncML" compatible and this
      process may cost the user air time minutes. You need access to an Internet connected computer and be computer literate.
  • The tool must allow the data to be legible and easy to read.

    • Score: Very Good.
    • Pros: The web based calendar is text based, intuitive and easy to read.
    • Cons: The user must learn how to enter the data.

Nice To Have Features:

  • The tool should allow the data to be easily imported and exported.

    • Score: Very Good.
    • Pros: This WCC model uses the Google Calendar application, which provides data import and exporting capabilities using standard formats (Import).
    • Cons: None.
  • The tool should provide notifications before a scheduled event.

    • Score: Very Good.
    • Pros: Google Calendar can be configured to send notifications to the cell phone at a specified number of minutes before the event.
    • Cons: There is only one default time setting for all event reminders.
  • The tool should be easy to convert to a new year.

    • Score: Very Good.
    • Pros: Google Calendar events can be configured to repeat in a
      variety of ways.
    • Cons: None
  • The tool should allow easy access to past and future years.

    • Score: Very Good.
    • Pros: Google Calendar has a powerful search utility for finding past and future events.
    • Cons: None.
  • The tool should use open standards versus proprietary to protect the data from vendor control.

    • Score: Good.
    • Pros: Google Calendar is a web based application that can be
      accessed with any operating
    • system using the most popular browsers. It also uses standard import/export formats.
    • Cons: None.
  • The tool should allow the data to be synchronized to other formats.

    • Score: Fair
    • Pros: This is a powerful feature if your phone is "snycML" compatible.
    • Cons: Most phones are not "syncML" compatible and this process may cost the user air time minutes.

Total Score: 4.5 (between good and very good)

References.
"Create a Google Account – Gmail" Online website by Google.
https://www.google.com/accounts/SmsMailSignup1

"Google Calendar"Online website by Google.
http://www.google.com/googlecalendar/overview.html

"Google Calendar SMS Interaction" Online website by PainInTheTech.
http://paininthetech.com/google_calendar_sms_interaction

"GooSync Beta Home Page". Online website by GooSync.
http://www.goosync.com/Default.aspx

‹ Time Management Tool Case StudiesupDay Planner Tool ›