The TaskTracker: Assistive Technology for Task Completion
Victoria E. Hribar · 2011 · Proceedings of the 13th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (ASSETS 2011) · doi:10.1145/2049536.2049631
Summary
This short paper presents the TaskTracker, an Android smartphone application designed to help individuals with cognitive impairments complete everyday tasks by combining time-management and prompting features into a single tool. The author identifies a gap in existing assistive technology for cognition (ATC): while many devices and applications help with memory storage and retrieval (to-do lists, appointment reminders), few address the challenge of maintaining focus and managing time during the actual execution of a task. The paper reviews existing solutions including standalone devices like the MotivAider (motivational reminders) and WatchMinder (programmable alarms for attention deficits), as well as smartphone apps for project management and task lists, noting that none combine progress tracking with real-time prompting during task completion. The TaskTracker fills this gap by integrating three key features: a visual progress bar showing time elapsed and remaining, configurable alarm reminders that interrupt when the user may have become distracted, and a customizable motivational message encouraging continued effort. The interface is deliberately simple, using a single screen to prevent users from becoming lost or distracted by application complexity. Users enter a task name, completion time, and number of reminders, and the app provides periodic feedback with visual and optional text-to-speech output.
Key findings
The TaskTracker uniquely combines three assistive features — visual progress tracking, timed alarm reminders, and motivational messaging — into one smartphone application focused on real-time task completion rather than task memory alone. The design prioritises simplicity with a single-screen interface, recognising that complex navigation could itself become a barrier for users with attention deficits. The application leverages mainstream smartphone technology rather than requiring a dedicated standalone device, aligning with research showing that ATC adoption is highest when tools integrate into a user's ordinary environment. The app also supports text-to-speech output for reminder content, adding multimodal accessibility. At the time of publication, the TaskTracker had not yet undergone formal user evaluation; the author outlined plans for validation testing comparing task completion times with and without the application, including usability testing with individuals with cognitive impairments.
Relevance
This paper highlights an important but often overlooked aspect of cognitive accessibility: the distinction between remembering to do a task and actually completing it. Most assistive tools focus on the former, leaving users without support during execution. The TaskTracker's approach of combining progress visualisation, timed prompts, and motivational cues offers a model for how mobile technology can support executive function in practical, everyday contexts. For accessibility practitioners, the design principles are instructive — particularly the emphasis on minimal interface complexity and integration with mainstream devices to reduce stigma and increase adoption. The work also underscores the value of designing for attention deficits broadly, as these challenges affect not only people with traumatic brain injuries but also those with ADD, ADHD, and other cognitive conditions.
Tags: assistive technology · cognitive impairment · task completion · time management · mobile applications · attention deficit · Android