Selenic Systems

Orbit Alarm guide

Barcode tasks for daily routines

Tasks are reminders for things through the day. You can tick most off with one tap. Or you can make one that only clears when you scan a barcode on the thing itself, so you have to go to it.

Two kinds of task

Plain task. A TASK DUE screen appears with a big MARK DONE button, and a short chime. The chime stops on its own after 30 seconds, and you can change this under Task Reminder Length in Settings → ALARM SAFETY. The screen stays until you mark it done or dismiss it.

Barcode task. A full-screen TASK DUE screen appears and the tone keeps going until you scan the code. It plays at full volume, so turning your phone down won’t quieten it. If you really can’t do it, there’s a Dismiss without completing option, so you’re never stuck.

Setting one up

  1. Register the code first: Settings (gear icon) → Codes Storage → enter a name → SCAN TO CAPTURE → STORE.
  2. Go to the TASKS tab and tap +.
  3. Fill in TASK (the name), REMINDER TIME and DATE. Under REPEAT, choose how often: daily, every weekday, weekly, every 2 weeks, monthly, yearly, or Custom… for anything else, such as every 3 weeks, the last Friday of the month, or ending after a set number of times.
  4. Switch on REQUIRE BARCODE SCAN and choose your code.
  5. Tap SAVE TASK.

Ideas

  • Vitamins. Scan the barcode on the jar. You’re holding it, so you might as well take them.
  • Bins. Stick a label on the bin, set it to Every 2 weeks if your collection is fortnightly, and it goes out on bin night.
  • Plants. A label on the watering can.
  • Keys and bag. A label by the front door for the “have I got everything?” check before you leave.

The trick is the same every time: the scan puts you next to the thing, and once you’re there, finishing it is the easy part.

Want a chart to go with them? The free chore chart maker prints a weekly tick chart and a QR label for each chore.

After you’ve done it

A task you finish moves to the COMPLETED list on the TASKS tab. That list stays collapsed so it doesn’t clutter your view. One-time tasks there are removed automatically after 7 days.

Checked against Orbit Alarm version 1.19.0.