Upfront/TECH
Cataloging Your Life
Keep track of what you read, watch—even drink
ONE OF the joys of aging is having an ever-growing number of experiences. And with modern technology, there’s a way to keep track of them all. Whether you love books, film, music or even beer, there are apps for your passion. “A lot of the reasons people are turning to these apps is they are trying to understand their lives or emotions in ways to give them insights and context,” says Stephen Schueller, a professor of psychological science and informatics at the University of California, Irvine. “I think that’s really powerful for people. The capacity to capture our lives in ways that help make sense of it is uniquely human.”
The book review website Goodreads, for example, has an app that lets people track their reading and rate and review books for others to see, says Cybil Wallace, managing editor. And at the end of the year, an avid reader can look back and see all the books they have read with a sense of accomplishment.
Mike Snider, 63, a journalist in Vienna, Virginia, uses a handful of these apps, including one that reminds him of favorite beers he has sampled. “Several times I’ve used Untappd to look up a beer, only to find I’ve had it before. Depending on my rating, I know if I liked it or whether it was just OK,” he says. “That helps me to not get something I may not like and advises me when not to miss out on a beer that impressed me in the past.” —Chris Morris