Spaced Repetition & Review Schedule

What is Spaced Repetition?

Have you ever finished a book only to forget most of it weeks later? According to research by German psychologist Hermann Ebbinghaus, without review, we forget about 80% of what we learned within a month. However, reviewing at the right intervals can retain memories with minimal effort.

This feature automatically schedules scientifically optimal review times (same day, next day, 1 week later, 1 month later) for records you want to remember, and notifies you when it's time to review.

The Ebbinghaus Forgetting Curve

We forget learned material over time, but not at a constant rate — forgetting is rapid at first, then gradually slows. Reviewing just as you're about to forget is the most efficient way to transfer information to long-term memory.

Review	Timing	Purpose
1st	Same day	Initial consolidation. Forgetting is fastest right after learning
2nd	Next day	Post-sleep review. Sleep organizes memories, making this review highly effective
3rd	1 week later	Transition to medium-term memory. Reinforces retention at the optimal forgetting point
4th	1 month later	Long-term memory consolidation. After this, memories can last months to years

Main Features

• Mark Records for Review Select records you want to remember and click "Mark for review". A brain icon (🧠) appears and 4 review sessions are automatically scheduled. A "Learn more" link next to the button opens this guide page. The tooltip reads "Schedule spaced repetition reminders (next day, 1 week, 1 month) based on the forgetting curve".
• 3-State Review Icon The ⏰ icon next to the date visually communicates review status at a glance:
  • ⏰ Static: Review scheduled (not yet due)
  • ⏰ Pulsing (graduated): Review needed (due date reached)
    • Same day to 2 days overdue: slightly red, slow pulse
    • 3 to 6 days overdue: red and larger, fast pulse
    • 7+ days overdue: bright red, maximum size, intense pulse
  • ✅ Green check: All 4 reviews completed
• One-Click Review from Icon Click or tap a pulsing ⏰ icon to instantly mark that review as done. The tooltip shows "Click to mark as reviewed". Icons that are not yet due cannot be clicked.
• Review Notifications When reviews are due, a banner notification appears at app startup. Simply click "Review now" to open the review panel.
• Cross-File Review Notifications Even before opening a file (right after login), a banner shows which files have pending reviews, e.g. "📖 Files with due reviews: BookA, BookB". Review summaries are saved to localStorage each time a file is saved.
• Review Panel Accessible anytime from [View]→[Review]. The "Due" tab shows items needing review today; the "All" tab shows every review item. The "Due" tab displays a progress bar (4 dots) for each item: completed reviews are green, the current review is orange, and future reviews are gray.
• Undo Review Completion After marking a review as done, an [Undo] button appears. If you couldn't recall the content, undo it to be reminded again the next day. In the "All" tab, you can also click a completed (green) dot to undo it.
• Retrieval Practice In the review panel, notes are hidden by default. Try to recall the content first, then click "Show memo" to verify — leveraging scientifically proven retrieval practice.
• Visual Progress Tracking The "All" tab shows a progress bar for each item, letting you see at a glance how many of the 4 reviews are complete.

How to Use (4 Steps)

1. Step 1: Mark a Record for Review Click on a record row to enter edit mode, then click the " Mark for review" button. A 🧠 icon next to the date confirms it's active.
2. Step 2: Wait for Review Timing The review schedule (same day, next day, 1 week, 1 month) is set automatically. When a review is due, the ⏰ icon pulses with graduated urgency. The more overdue, the faster, larger, and redder the pulse becomes.
3. Step 3: Review There are two ways to review: (A) Click the pulsing ⏰ icon to directly mark that review as done. (B) Open the review panel via the startup banner or [View]→[Review], try to recall the content before clicking "Show memo" to check.
4. Step 4: Click "Review Done" (or Undo) After reviewing in the panel, click the "Review done" button. If you couldn't recall the content, click [Undo] to be reminded again the next day. A celebration message appears when all 4 reviews are complete.

Recommended Use Cases

Exam preparation:
Mark key formulas and concepts from textbooks for review. Instead of last-minute cramming, build lasting knowledge systematically.

Business book insights:
Mark actionable ideas and frameworks you want to apply at work. Repeated recall helps translate knowledge into action.

Language learning and technical reading:
Mark new vocabulary and concepts for efficient vocabulary building and knowledge construction.

Book club preparation:
Mark memorable passages so you can articulate your thoughts clearly at the next meeting.

Tips for Maximum Effectiveness

• Be selective Only mark truly important content. Too many items increase review burden and reduces sustainability.
• Write notes in your own words Research shows that summarizing in your own words (elaboration) produces stronger memory traces than copying text verbatim.
• Always try to recall first Before viewing your notes, attempt to recall the content. This "effortful retrieval" is the most powerful memory strengthening technique.
• Review before bed Sleep consolidates memories, making bedtime review especially effective. The review panel is always accessible from the View menu, perfect for a nightly routine.