There’s an app for that…

Every time I wonder aloud if something is possible, or ruminate on a problem, somebody is quick to jump in with “there’s an app for that!”

  • track expenses 
  • count calories
  • measure your metabolic rate while sleeping
  • perfect your memory

If there isn’t an app yet, there should be one.

A new app, Memoir, is designed to give you a “perfect memory.”  Once installed you grant the app permission to access photos in your accounts (ex. Facebook, Instagram, Foursquare) and devices (ex. smartphone). Then Memoir constructs memories by aggregating photos, captions, and timelines from all your sources by matching geolocation, time stamps and bits of metadata embedded in your objects. Request photos from contacts to enhance the memory.

Basically it’s creating a photo album (aka memory) for you of a certain event based on matching people, places and times regardless of where the information was originally posted.  No need to spend time tagging and organizing the photos, Memoir can do all of that by using metadata.  This is my basic vision of how it works:

Memoir aggregates photos and other bits of information from disparate sources by matching metadata of geolocation, time stamps, people, etc.

Memoir aggregates photos and other bits of information from disparate sources by matching metadata of geolocation, time stamps, people, etc.

I have to admit, when I first heard about Memoir I was fascinated and creeped out all in the same moment. I like the idea of having photos aggregated automatically from different sources/people to create a “memory.”  But what about requesting photos from contacts who don’t edit their photos and share hundreds of blurry, bad ones.  Does this mean I’ll have to clean up somebody else’s mess in my memory?

Memoir’s privacy policy states: “All of the photos and data that you create, edit, share and store is deemed 100% private to you.”  This is amazing, but someone will find a way to release these tender memories into the wild.  After all, nothing remains sacred in the cloud where all the memories are stored.  I should also note that I couldn’t access Memoir’s privacy policy from their website, but found the link for it poking around in their twitter feed.

I’m still on the fence about Memoir.  Admittedly it’s not a good app for nerds like me who turn off GPS to save battery power and limit FB friends to under 50.  I think I’ll hold out for Dream App so I can finally remember what happened when I wake up.  Oh wait, there’s an app for that!

Are you interested in using Memoir?  Cast your vote in this week’s poll.

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