SRS

[Shelley]

This may seem an elementry question but what is SRS? Thanks

Shelley

[Glenn]

It's "spaced repetition software".

[querido]

Spaced Repetition System

It's a kind of flashcard program, one that gradually lengthens the intervals (time between testings) of the ones you get right.

In theory, it implements some reasonable findings by researchers on how memory works.

In practice, it simply pushes the items you "know" farther out so you can concentrate on the new or weaker ones.

The simplest kind simply multiplies the interval (for example by 2) when you score it right, and divides it or fails it when you get it wrong. Even this simplest implementation works well. More advanced systems store a multiplier-variable for each card and gradually increments/decrements this multiplier based on the scoring history. So hard cards, hard to *you*, might have their intervals multiplied by 1.3, while easy ones by 2.5.

I can look at my deck statistics and see that this system really works. It isn't exact but over many hundreds of cards it averages out pretty credibly.

Hi! Didn't see you Glenn. :-)

[Shelley]

Hi , thanks for the replies. It now makes sense. Do flashcard programs all have this, I use Declans, Chinese character tutor and a couple of other flashcard programs. Do you know which ones use SRS? Thanks again. Shelley PS. i was thinking of getting pleco does this have it?

[Glenn]

No problem, querido. Your response was probably more helpful, and in any event I didn't know about the different algorithms, so I got something out of it too.

Shelley, an SRS will have a scoring system, so anything that you score yourself on is most likely an SRS. If there isn't a scoring system I don't see how it could be an SRS, as it works based on how well you feel you did on a certain card and what your evaluation of your performance was.

[querido]

If the program has a website and has SRS they'll no doubt talk about it there. Some have forums too. *This* forum has lots of threads too. Search for Anki, Mnemosyne, etc.

Yes, Plecodict does. Awesome product. Can't praise it enough. (I run mine on an iTouch, also awesome.)

[Shelley]

I think I will definetly get pleco for this and other brill things it does ( I have the demo). Thanks again for the explanation. Shelley :rolleyes:

[one99]

I just downloaded Anki and added a few characters from my textbook to try it out.

But when I look at the cards, the characters are way too small. Am I missing something simple? I don't want to be straining my eyes to work out a character.

I spent a couple of minutes in the Add cards section but couldn't find any option to increase the font size?

[chaiknees]

Open the deck. And then go to the menu Settings --> Fonts and Colours. There you can change font types, sizes and colours for every field independently.

[SiMaKe]

Check out the Settings/Fonts and Colours. Additional control over placement and format is in Settings/Deck Properties. These are both available once a deck is opened.

If it's any consolation, I had a bit of a time getting these adjustments the way I wanted them. In my view, the documentation is somewhat at a high level so you have to experiment sometimes to get what you want. But regardless, I think the program is excellent. And of course, the price is certainly reasonable.