Knowledge Base

Memo App Glossary

Essential terms for understanding memo apps and productivity tools. From encryption technology to productivity methodologies and email protocols — 10 key terms explained clearly and concisely.

Security & Technology Terms

AES-GCM Encryption

Galois/Counter Mode authenticated encryption — the same cipher family as TLS 1.3, used by Simple Memo for Outbox storage. Includes AES-CBC comparison.

How end-to-end encryption works, and how Simple Memo's on-device AES-GCM approach compares.

Outbox Architecture

Queue locally, send when connected. The core technical innovation behind Simple Memo.

How email sending and receiving protocols work, and why Simple Memo needs no SMTP configuration.

Productivity Method Terms

Merlin Mann's methodology for keeping your inbox empty. Treating email as a task queue.

David Allen's Getting Things Done system. Five steps: Capture, Clarify, Organize, Reflect, Engage.

Niklas Luhmann's slip-box note system. Fleeting notes, literature notes, and permanent notes.

Tiago Forte's Building a Second Brain and PARA method. A systematic approach to digital knowledge management.

Pomodoro Technique

Francesco Cirillo's time management technique. 25-minute focus + 5-minute break cycles for peak productivity.

The "send memo to yourself by email" concept. History and philosophy originating from the Captio app (around 2011).

Knowledge & Learning Terms

A lightweight markup language for formatting plain text. The de facto standard supported by most memo apps.

PKM (Personal Knowledge Management)

A systematic approach to collecting, organizing, and leveraging personal knowledge. The overarching concept behind Second Brain and Zettelkasten.

Spaced Repetition

A memorization technique using spaced review intervals. Based on the forgetting curve, it optimizes timing to maximize retention.

A visual thinking tool that radiates ideas from a central theme. Systematized by Tony Buzan as a visual note-taking method.

A note-taking system developed at Cornell University. Divides the page into notes, cues, and summary for effective learning.

Focus & Productivity Terms

Intentionally disconnecting from digital devices and social media. A practice to restore attention and reclaim deep thinking.

Cal Newport's concept of performing cognitively demanding work in focused concentration. Understood in contrast with shallow work.

Eisenhower Matrix

A prioritization framework that classifies tasks into 4 quadrants by urgency and importance. Focus on Quadrant 2 (important but not urgent).

A visual workflow management method born from Toyota Production System. Visualize tasks on boards with "To Do," "Doing," and "Done" columns.

A time management technique that assigns fixed time blocks to tasks. Leverages deadline pressure to boost focus and completion rates.

Put These Terms into Practice

Simple Memo lets you instantly practice GTD, Inbox Zero, Second Brain, and more with an email-based workflow. Free to download.

Related Pages

All Productivity Methods Email Setup Guides Captio Alternative Guide Note-to-Email Guide App Comparisons FAQ