Quizlet results

Most of visitors to this website are users of SuperMemo. An overwhelming proportion of those are happy users of SuperMemo J (see the Disclaimer at the top of this page)

What is your relationship with SuperMemo? (146 respondents)

1. 53%, I am a happy user of SuperMemo
2. 16%, I came to your website looking for software to enhance learning
3. 14%, I am a random visitor to your website
4. 10%, I intend to buy SuperMemo
5. 3%, I heard about SuperMemo
6. 3%, SuperMemo does not work!

SuperMemo is one of our users' most important applications. We intentionally did not put SuperMemo to face web browsers in this quizlet competition. Our research indicates that most of our users outside Poland have found out about SuperMemo using their web browser! The results below are naturally biased by the fact that over 50% of visitors to this website are happy users of SuperMemo (see the Disclaimer at the top of this page)

Which software application is most important for you? (132 respondents)

1. 69%, SuperMemo
2. 23%, Word processors (MS Word, Word Perfect, etc.)
3. 4%, Games
4. 3%, Anti-virus software
5. 0%, Corel Draw
6. 1%, None of the above

Best time for making repetitions with SuperMemo is morning. Many users of SuperMemo are convinced that a particular time of day is best for good results of learning with SuperMemo. It has been confirmed a number of times that most prefer to make repetitions early in the morning (before work or before school). Although, memories consolidated before sleep are said to be most durable, morning repetitions seem to greatly compensate this fact by a better focus and attention. For users with a large number of repetitions per day, a fatigue factor can be combated effectively by splitting repetitions in portions of 50 spread throughout the day

What time is best for making repetitions with SuperMemo? (60 respondents)

1. 59%, First thing in the morning (this is also the option we recommend)
2. 16%, Last thing before sleep
3. 10%, Before lunch or dinner
4. 8%, Several small portions during the day (also recommended if you have many repetitions)
5. 3%, After lunch or dinner

SuperMemo should be simpler and portable. Despite our constant effort to add new functionality to SuperMemo for Windows line, most of the respondents asked for a simpler SuperMemo for portable computers such as PalmPilot or Windows CE handhelds and palmtops. In the meantime, SuperMemo for Windows CE and SuperMemo for PalmPilot have been released and scored their first successes. These should entirely satisfy portability and simplicity criteria! On the other hand, SuperMemo 99 has become yet more complex with tasklists and reading lists; however, it added a middle level of complexity to simplify the transition from the basic to professional level.
16% of respondents expect more material to learn from SuperMemo Library while only 15% would like to use SuperMemo on-line on the Internet

What should SuperMemo World (our company) focus on in the future? (127 respondents)

1. 24%, Make SuperMemo portable (e.g. PalmPilot, Windows CE)
2. 23%, Make SuperMemo simpler
3. 16%, Develop SuperMemo Library more intensely
4. 15%, Develop web-based SuperMemo
5. 14%, Provide speech recognition support
6. 7%, Focus on promoting SuperMemo (as is)

Reading lists and tasklist in SuperMemo 99 are a step in the right direction. In early months of SuperMemo 99, we were not sure if reading lists in SuperMemo would really take off. SuperMemo has long been know for being overly complex. Many features of the professional level SuperMemo are rarely used by an average user. However, user feedback clearly indicates that many of you believe that the reading lists are the greatest breakthrough in SuperMemo since leaping into the area of hypermedia in 1995. Actually, with SuperMemo 2000, reading options in SuperMemo may become a predominant way of learning with the program!

What do you think of tasklists and reading lists in SuperMemo 99? (84 respondents)

1. 39%, I plan to use reading lists in SuperMemo
2. 30%, I plan to use both reading lists and tasklists
3. 11%, I do not see the reason for introducing tasklists to SuperMemo
4. 11%, I do not understand questions in this quiz
5. 5%, I do not plan to upgrade to SuperMemo 99
6. 5%, I am not a user of SuperMemo

The articles SuperMemo is useless! and No force in the world can convince me to SuperMemo! made a good reading. We quoted some of criticism directed against SuperMemo, and provided a spicy rejoinder. Expectedly, most of our visitors, disagreed with the criticism (those who do not believe in SuperMemo simply do not come to this site). Yet the articles were overwhelmingly considered "enjoyable"

What do you think about "SuperMemo is Useless" articles? (110 respondents)

1. 71%, Excellent reading
2. 16%, Waste of time! Data smog!
3. 8%, I did not read these articles
4. 3%, I did not understand these articles
5. 3%, The articles tell the truth!

Most visitors to this site relax, watch TV or take a walk when they get tired of learning. Various forms of relaxation predominate among nearly half of those taking part in the poll. A hypothesis says that the process of learning overloads the neural networks of the brain (esp. the hippocampus). To prevent erasing old memories for the sake of storing new one's, the brain fights against new learning by making us tired or drowsy. The best method for rewiring the neural connections is sleep (there is plenty of evidence that indicates that in sleep, memories move away from the hippocampus to the neocortex). However, sleep is possible only at certain times of the wake-sleep cycle (in accordance with one's individual circadian rhythm; see: Good sleep, good learning). No wonder, napping ranked second on the poll list (it is worth noting that the mere fact that we are able to recharge the batteries by simply taking a break from learning seems to show that the learning overload can also be diffused during waking). 
Some people claim they do not get tired of learning. If the overload hypothesis is correct, adrenaline-based learning of an exciting subject will never be as effective as learning in bursts even though enthusiasm is one of best prescriptions for excellent learning results!
Drinking coffee or caffeine beverages may not be a good idea for efficient learning. Caffeine can be helpful in dispelling sleep inertia upon arising. However, it is a poor substitute for mental rest and sleep. Caffeine is a stimulant and should help overcome tiredness; however, it may produce restlessness and difficulty with focused attention. It will also mask the overload effect which may ultimately be harmful for learning. Exercise may combine some of the effects of caffeine with the effects of relaxation; however, it requires effort. Probably this is why it ranked lower. 
Lastly, a short-lasting boost in blood glucose upon consuming a sugar-rich meal is likely to help glucose-powered learning; however, the release of insulin will quickly bring glucose in the blood back to the physiological level. No wonder, snacks are not popular in overcoming learning-related tiredness.
Our recommendation: if you get tired of learning, do not slog it out! Take a break. If this is your sleep time, go to sleep. If this is your siesta time, take a nap. Otherwise, relaxation or moderate exercise should help you recharge batteries. If this does not help, you can call it quits for today! Further effort may be counterproductive!

What do you do when you get tired of learning? (161 respondents)

1. 43%, Relax, watch TV or take a walk
2. 20%, Take a nap
3. 13%, Drink a cup of coffee or coke
4. 12%, Exercise
5. 11%, I never get tired of brain jobs
6. 1%, Eat a bar of candy or a snack

Favorite platforms for SuperMemo are still Windows and palmtop devices. We have declared more than once that in the future, SuperMemo will live on the net. However, in mid-2001, participants of our quiz indicated that MS Windows is still their favorite learning platform.

How would you like to learn in the future? (422 respondents)

1. 29%, using SuperMemo for Windows
2. 27%, using SuperMemo on palmtop devices such as Palm, Handspring, Pocket PC, Psion, etc.
3. 26%, using SuperMemo for Linux
4. 12%, in a browser over the Internet (On-line SuperMemo)
5. 5%, with my mobile phone
6. 2%, on other platforms

Stress, lack of sleep and poor self-discipline are the chief enemies of genius. In the modern "rate race" society, stress is a factor of life. Few can escape it. Although moderate stress adds spice to life, overstress is highly destructive. It affects health, personal relationships, and creativity. For starters, it is one of the causes of insomnia and depression. Stress and insomnia are a powerful combination that affect self-discipline of a major part of population in developing countries! No wonder so many respondents believe that self-discipline is the number one ingredient missing in their quest for genius brain powers.

What would increase your brain powers most? (476 respondents)

1. 26%, better self-discipline
2. 21%, eliminating stress
3. 18%, getting more sleep
4. 17%, learning better
5. 9%, better health
6. 9%, learning more

Complexity of SuperMemo militates against its popularity. If SuperMemo is to be popular, it must attempt to be simple and user-friendly. It cannot add functionality at the cost of simplicity. Its complexity is not remedied by extensive documentation. Inherently complex software is inherently difficult to document and explain.

What annoys you most about SuperMemo (243 respondents)

1. 36% simple things are made complex
2. 23%, documentation is chaos
3. 8%, bugs, bugs, bugs
4. 7%, Martian terminology
5. 1%, it does not work