I personally would be weirded out if I received automated messages like these. If you really want to stay in touch with me, why not have a recurring calendar event? If I had an SO who used this to say “Miss you” at random times, it would feel meaningless to me. It would feel a lot more meaningful if there was a typo and I knew it was written deliberately—until the bot gets smarter and inserts random typos.
Oftentimes, when the app reminds me to reach out, I’ll write whatever I’m feeling at that moment and not use one of the templates. Other times I’ll be busy with something and one of the templates is spot on with how I’m feeling. I tried using recurring calendar entries in the past, but there wasn’t enough there to keep me consistent.
Based on the feedback here, which I agree with, it might be better to have suggestions for topics to message about or prompts that could remind you about something about that person rather than a full on prepopulated message. E.g. “Ask them about their latest travels” or “Message Bob Smith about his favorite hobby “.
I 100% identify with the problem this app is aimed at! It’s so hard for me to reach out to friends regularly. But the idea of sending automated messages turns me off completely. It’s the polar opposite of genuine connection. If I learned that someone was messaging me this way, frankly I’d feel insulted. It’s degrading a personal relationship to CRM.
(Edit: To be clear, this is just my personal reaction. I’m not saying this app is Bad or Wrong. I hope you’ll just take this as a bit of market research.)
I’d be down with an app that popped up reminders, esp. combined with some context about our last interaction. Something where I personally end up writing and sending a message.
Reminders would be good, esp. combined with some context about our last interaction. Something where I personally end up writing and sending a message.
It can easily be used this way without using a template.
My preference would be something that reminds me every day to set aside some time to write to people I’d like to keep in touch with. These will be people who are acquaintances and old friends who I don’t interact with every day. In case I am at a loss of what to write to them, since this time will likely be at the end of the day, 10 minutes before bed, when I can eke out a moment, I would like the software to offer me prompts based on my previous correspondence with them, and my notes about them, such as their birthday, anniversary, perhaps pull up some photos of us together etc. etc. so my creative juices get flowing.
Hello again fellow lobsters. I created this app and I expect it can help others like me, those with ADHD and those who’ve resolved to be better at reaching out to friends and family this new year.
I’m not very good at keeping in touch with people. So “there’s an app for that,” right? No, there actually wasn’t one—at least not one that did what I wanted simply. So I made one.
I define the app as a smart communications assistant/tool for text messages, calls and email that helps making staying in touch as effortless as it can be.
How is this app different from other personal CRM and automation tools?
Well, it’s purposely simple and combines some functionality from both areas. Most personal CRM apps are unable to easily make informed decisions as it relates to texts and calls because they have limited access to information—and most device automation apps, while they have access to more information, do not have a CRM focus. CommuniqAI blends these two and cleverly keeps you in touch with the people who matter the most with minimal interruption and distraction, zero requirements to manually log previous communications and actual conversation histories so you can quickly recall what you last touched upon. By default, the app will not take any action and largely act as a helpful reminder, and I recommend this type of use.
I’m glad to hear that the tool you designed is helping you. I have concerns similar to some of the other commenters here: do you think that the text messages sent by your app are authentic? Are your friends and family aware that you are using this app, and if so, are they comfortable with it? I understand that reminders to keep up with friends can be useful, but pre-selecting a message to send to them (as shown in the screenshots) seems like it would leave a lot of room for error. Personally, I read texts like “miss you” and “love you” to mean two distinct things, and just randomly selecting one would lose some information.
I’m also not certain what is significantly different now from the last time you posted this. Other than leaving beta, how has your app improved?
…do you think that the text messages sent by your app are authentic?
Of course—I wrote and sent them all. By default, the app will not take any action, and largely act as a helpful reminder, and this is how I use it.
Are your friends and family aware that you are using this app, and if so, are they comfortable with it?
Please see the Medium story I wrote.
Other than leaving beta, how has your app improved?
Well, for one, far fewer bugs ;) ! Most of the changes are Android-related and address numerous changes desired and required by newer versions of Android, but there are also improvements to the notifications, scheduler and related heuristics. I also plan to release an update soon that will support quarterly communications and more smarts.
I like the idea of being reminded when I’m not putting out enough effort to keep in touch with a friend. I don’t like the idea of automatic text messages at all — it’s practically the opposite of what I want to achieve.
A while ago, I installed the Monica CRM to use for reminding me to contact people I care about, and for storing basic information about people I’ve met but don’t really know. But I ended up never forming the habits needed to use it, and after a while deleted it, largely unused.
By default, the app will not take any action, and largely act as a helpful reminder, and this is how I use it.
As for Monica, and related personal CRM tools, I found that the more complex these tools are the less likely I am to use them. For storing basic information about someone, I simply use the built-in Contacts app on my phone.
I think the app tries to do one thing really well, and that thing is getting you to reach out with a minimal amount of effort. Once that initial connection is made, the conversation tends to flow more easily between both parties.
I personally would be weirded out if I received automated messages like these. If you really want to stay in touch with me, why not have a recurring calendar event? If I had an SO who used this to say “Miss you” at random times, it would feel meaningless to me. It would feel a lot more meaningful if there was a typo and I knew it was written deliberately—until the bot gets smarter and inserts random typos.
Oftentimes, when the app reminds me to reach out, I’ll write whatever I’m feeling at that moment and not use one of the templates. Other times I’ll be busy with something and one of the templates is spot on with how I’m feeling. I tried using recurring calendar entries in the past, but there wasn’t enough there to keep me consistent.
Based on the feedback here, which I agree with, it might be better to have suggestions for topics to message about or prompts that could remind you about something about that person rather than a full on prepopulated message. E.g. “Ask them about their latest travels” or “Message Bob Smith about his favorite hobby “.
I 100% identify with the problem this app is aimed at! It’s so hard for me to reach out to friends regularly. But the idea of sending automated messages turns me off completely. It’s the polar opposite of genuine connection. If I learned that someone was messaging me this way, frankly I’d feel insulted. It’s degrading a personal relationship to CRM.
(Edit: To be clear, this is just my personal reaction. I’m not saying this app is Bad or Wrong. I hope you’ll just take this as a bit of market research.)
I’d be down with an app that popped up reminders, esp. combined with some context about our last interaction. Something where I personally end up writing and sending a message.
It can easily be used this way without using a template.
My preference would be something that reminds me every day to set aside some time to write to people I’d like to keep in touch with. These will be people who are acquaintances and old friends who I don’t interact with every day. In case I am at a loss of what to write to them, since this time will likely be at the end of the day, 10 minutes before bed, when I can eke out a moment, I would like the software to offer me prompts based on my previous correspondence with them, and my notes about them, such as their birthday, anniversary, perhaps pull up some photos of us together etc. etc. so my creative juices get flowing.
It does this now.
This is a great idea!
The real question is: why am I messaging someone who didn’t message me first?
Because humans are imperfect and relationships take work?
Why wouldn’t you message your friends first?
I mean, if I have something to say to them I would.
If everyone had this attitude then… no one would ever message anyone?
Hello again fellow lobsters. I created this app and I expect it can help others like me, those with ADHD and those who’ve resolved to be better at reaching out to friends and family this new year.
I’m not very good at keeping in touch with people. So “there’s an app for that,” right? No, there actually wasn’t one—at least not one that did what I wanted simply. So I made one.
I define the app as a smart communications assistant/tool for text messages, calls and email that helps making staying in touch as effortless as it can be.
How is this app different from other personal CRM and automation tools?
Well, it’s purposely simple and combines some functionality from both areas. Most personal CRM apps are unable to easily make informed decisions as it relates to texts and calls because they have limited access to information—and most device automation apps, while they have access to more information, do not have a CRM focus. CommuniqAI blends these two and cleverly keeps you in touch with the people who matter the most with minimal interruption and distraction, zero requirements to manually log previous communications and actual conversation histories so you can quickly recall what you last touched upon. By default, the app will not take any action and largely act as a helpful reminder, and I recommend this type of use.
When I first made the app available, I posted a story on how the app got started, my eureka moments, repeated failures and a little technical detail at https://medium.com/@mtc.dev/my-first-android-app-story-331c98270ec4?source=friends_link&sk=d01250707057ed71f2c7af8ed4ac9eea.
The last time I submitted to Lobste.rs, the app was only available as a limited beta, but this is no longer the case—and the app has no ads or logins.
I’d love some feedback.
Cheers.
I’m glad to hear that the tool you designed is helping you. I have concerns similar to some of the other commenters here: do you think that the text messages sent by your app are authentic? Are your friends and family aware that you are using this app, and if so, are they comfortable with it? I understand that reminders to keep up with friends can be useful, but pre-selecting a message to send to them (as shown in the screenshots) seems like it would leave a lot of room for error. Personally, I read texts like “miss you” and “love you” to mean two distinct things, and just randomly selecting one would lose some information.
I’m also not certain what is significantly different now from the last time you posted this. Other than leaving beta, how has your app improved?
Of course—I wrote and sent them all. By default, the app will not take any action, and largely act as a helpful reminder, and this is how I use it.
Please see the Medium story I wrote.
Well, for one, far fewer bugs ;) ! Most of the changes are Android-related and address numerous changes desired and required by newer versions of Android, but there are also improvements to the notifications, scheduler and related heuristics. I also plan to release an update soon that will support quarterly communications and more smarts.
AI can be useful but it is also a great way to waste people’s time.
I like the idea of being reminded when I’m not putting out enough effort to keep in touch with a friend. I don’t like the idea of automatic text messages at all — it’s practically the opposite of what I want to achieve.
A while ago, I installed the Monica CRM to use for reminding me to contact people I care about, and for storing basic information about people I’ve met but don’t really know. But I ended up never forming the habits needed to use it, and after a while deleted it, largely unused.
By default, the app will not take any action, and largely act as a helpful reminder, and this is how I use it.
As for Monica, and related personal CRM tools, I found that the more complex these tools are the less likely I am to use them. For storing basic information about someone, I simply use the built-in Contacts app on my phone.
I think the app tries to do one thing really well, and that thing is getting you to reach out with a minimal amount of effort. Once that initial connection is made, the conversation tends to flow more easily between both parties.