Idem Smart Clock - Reminder Feature

The IDEM Smart Clock is designed to support ongoing independence at home, particularly for people living with Dementia or various Cognitive Support needs.

It has many useful features, in this article we’re going to take a close look at the “Reminders feature”.

Why Reminders Matter

Reminders are super helpful for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, reminding us of important everyday tasks, such as:

✔ Medication prompts
✔ Hydration and meal reminders
✔ Meaningful leisure activities (go for a walk, feed the dog, watch favourite TV show, etc..)
✔ Rest and sleep preparation
✔ Maintaining a healthy routine

What Makes Reminders Most Effective?

Most reminder clocks are very limited when it comes to reminders. To be effective, reminders should be:

✔ Personal & Specific (most clocks are restricted to a small selection of preset reminders)

✔ Familiar & Gentle (many clocks have distressing alarms that create anxiety)

✔ Display large clear text with minimum screen clutter.

✔ Support associated images with the reminder.

✔ Support talking reminders (very few clocks support this)

✔ Support the users native language (spoken and visual display)

 

IDEM Smart Clock achieves all of these with the additional benefits of being able to:

✔ Schedule reminders from the carers smartphone, from anywhere in the world

✔ Receive confirmation that a reminder has been acknowledged (or not) by the user.

How IDEM Reminders Work

Reminders are created using the idem mobile app, making it easy for carers or family to set up and adjust from anywhere in the world.

Reminders will automatically appear on the screen when due and will remain visible for the pre-set duration (up to 60 minutes) or until the “Understood” button is touched on the screen with a single tap.

• If a Reminder sound was selected it will play that sound repeatedly until actioned.
• “You Have A Reminder” will be spoken out loud on the idem clock
• The reminder text and photo (if included) it will be displayed on the screen
• If the reminder has “Read Out Loud” activated, the reminder text will also be spoken out loud in one of 13 supported languages.
• The reminder will stay on the screen until actioned “Understood” or times out.

 

IDEM Reminder Features and Customisation Options

Below are the key features and settings of idem Reminders. These can be fully customised for each different reminder.

✔ Spoken Reminders: The message can be read out loud in one of 13 languages.

✔ Display Duration: Set how long you would like the reminder to stay on the screen (1-60 min).

✔ Add A Photo: This helps with visual recognition and confidence. Typically it would be a photo of the item the reminder is about. For example, the specific medication, the location of the dog's lead, or a photo of the bin that needs to go out.

✔ Confirmation Request: Ask a specific follow up question up to 30 minutes after the reminder, with a Yes or No Question. For example, “Did you put the bins out?”, allowing the person to tap “Yes or No”.

✔ Optional images, helping with visual recognition.

✔ Custom Sounds: Some reminders, like important ones, you may wish to have a reminder chime sound whilst some you may wish to silently appear on the screen.

✔ Recurrence: Daily, Weekly, Monthly or fully customisable. You can even have the one reminder, repeat numerous times a day.

✔ Display Now: To push the reminder to sound/display immediately.

✔ Notifications: As the carer, you can choose to be notified if the user has acknowledged the reminder by selecting “Understood” on the idem screen or if the reminder was ignored or answered with a “No”.

These features help reminders feel supportive, not demanding.

Once saved, the reminder appears automatically on the idem clock at the scheduled time.

Reassurance for Families and Carers

idem reminders include several options designed to support understanding and reassurance: 

For the user, idem reminders are designed to be personal and friendly. This way the user feels supported and empowered

For families and carers, idem reminders support peace of mind without the need for constant check-ins, whilst the app can notify you if a reminder is acknowledged or ignored, helping you stay informed.

Idem Smart Clock has the most supportive reminders of any reminder clock on the market.

About the Author — Paul Colley

Paul Colley is a technology specialist with extensive experience in consumer electronics and accessible product design, including senior roles with global brands such as Sony and Samsung. His work focuses on sourcing the world’s leading low-cost, low-risk assistive technology, supporting independence, safety, and daily living for seniors, NDIS, Support at Home, and My Aged Care participants, as well as their carers.

In 2019, while supporting his mother who was living with dementia, Paul experienced firsthand how many everyday assistive products can unintentionally create confusion rather than reassurance, and isolation rather than connection. Drawing on this lived experience and his professional background, Paul and his wife Kate founded HOMELife Technology to focus on identifying and sourcing the world's leading easy-to-use assistive technology for all Australians.