GoalKeeper handles in a way that is quite different than standard To-Do List software, but it’s very much in-tune with the way people naturally think. Goals stack up into hierarchies -- broad/abstract “be” goals break down into smaller-scale “do” goals, which break down into actionable tasks, which can be broken down into even smaller subtasks ad infinitum. People vary in the level of abstraction at which they generally think about their goals, aspirations, day-to-day tasks, and lives in general. It has been shown, however, that simply being exposed to new and different frames of thinking can increase motivation, boost performance, and make people feel happier/more meaningful. To be able to toggle between “big picture” thinking and actionable minutia; between “be” goals and “do” goals with a slight gesture of the hand is at the heart of the GoalKeeper interface.

Every GoalKeeper item exists on a single plane: the user’s entire ‘network’ of goals, which comprises the app’s zooming user interface. In this regard, interaction with GoalKeeper is more akin to Google Maps than it is to the iOS “Reminders” app. Goals and tasks are represented by circles, rather than lists nested within lists nested within more lists. In a (very condensed) nutshell, users simply tap and type to create individual tasks, then draw circles around or drag together related tasks in order to group them into goals. This can be done to whatever level of abstraction the user wishes to operate at -- so, a massive life goal could contain five different smaller goals, all of which contain numerous individual tasks. As tasks are completed, users simply check them off, which eventually leads to entire goals being checked off. The beauty of this interface is that the user is constantly able to see, at-a-glance, not only the things that they need to do that day, but also what bigger motivations lie behind those smaller tasks. Completing a big project seems more meaningful when it’s perceived within the overarching goal of “Being A Success,” and “Being A Success” seems a lot less daunting and much more achievable when you’re able to zoom in and see that its comprised of actionable, completable subgoals and subtasks with the pinch of a few fingers.