PEAT is an Android based tablet or smartphone application that provides cueing and scheduling assistance, replacing or supporting executive functioning for individuals with memory, attention, or cognitive disorders. Most scheduling applications work this way; schedule an event, and an alarm reminds you when the event starts. PEAT goes a step further by helping user’s prioritize and change their schedule as life’s unexpected events occur. To help you understand how this works, I’ll review a few of PEAT’s key features.
Scheduling
When users schedule with PEAT, they are guided through the entire scheduling process – step by step. This technique is called adding a task, and it assures users successfully and independently schedules their tasks – not missing any detail in the process. In the video below, BrainAid demonstrates adding a task.
Staying On Task
PEAT is a friendly and very persistent reminder. Tasks that are scheduled will pop up on your smartphone or tablet, interrupting whatever application an individual is in to remind them to stay on schedule. If a choice for the task isn’t given, PEAT will cue the task every thirty seconds, and will not allow the user to do anything with their smartphone other than answer a call. I really love this feature. It keeps individuals on task and engaged in their schedule. Check out a video of this feature below.
Prioritizing
Prioritizing is really what makes PEAT special. Life changes and our day to day activities are unpredictable. PEAT steps in and helps individuals who have trouble with rescheduling and planning when life presents change. BrainAid’s website describes it best, “Many activities are not scheduled for specific times, but must occur within given time ranges. These flexible activities cannot be represented by other calendar and cueing systems. In PEAT, if the schedule changes by having an activity added, rescheduled, completed early, or skipped, PEAT will check the schedule and make changes as appropriate. PEAT adjusts the schedule based on deadlines, duration, sequence constraints and priorities.” Below is a tutorial video demonstrating how to wait before starting a task.
My Thoughts
Like mentioned before, this is a great app for a broad range of individuals. Current PEAT users include those with traumatic brain injury, stroke, hypoxia, neurodegenerative conditions including Autism, MS, Alzheimer’s disease, and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Also, BrainAid is currently participating in four funded research proposals to develop the technology they’ve created so far to serve an even broader range of individuals, and in different ways. Check it out here.
PEAT provides a simple format to work with. Multiple guides, including online tutorials and PEAT Sheets, help users learn how to use PEAT successfully and independently. Also, PEAT provides a design that’s hard to ignore. When users try to close PEAT by swiping it of off their app menu, the app won’t close. Instead, it will open up! A great safeguard for an individual who is trying to ignore the app!
If you think the PEAT would be great for you or someone you know – you’re in luck. BrainAid provides a free 30 day trial of the PEAT application. Get the app trial here. If you’d like to learn more about BrainAid or PEAT, just visit the BrainAid website here!