IRLpad
| Introduction: | IRLpad is a digital notebook designed to help users remember more by mimicking the physical rules of a real notebook, encouraging focused and honest note-taking. |
| Recorded in: | 6/5/2025 |
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What is IRLpad?
IRLpad is a unique digital notebook that intentionally replicates the physical constraints of a traditional paper notebook. Unlike most note-taking apps that focus on organization and endless editing, IRLpad prioritizes memory and deeper thinking. It operates with "physical rules": no delete key (users strike through instead), no infinite scroll, and only one page visible at a time. The platform is designed for individuals who prefer thinking on paper, miss the tangible feel of notebooks without the bulk, and seek a space to capture raw ideas rather than optimize them. Its core value proposition is to enhance memory by encouraging "bad notes" – messy, honest, and imperfect – based on cognitive science principles that suggest finite space and irreversible actions lead to stronger retention.
How to use IRLpad
Users can acquire IRLpad by downloading it from the Apple App Store. There are no accounts to create, simplifying the onboarding process. The app is priced at $0.99. Interaction is primarily gesture-based, mimicking physical paper: users can type or write by hand using a finger or stylus, switch input modes with a two-finger swipe, swipe to turn pages, and quickly swipe to "remove" (strike through) a page. Notes are automatically saved to iCloud and synced across devices, eliminating the need for manual exports or file management.
IRLpad's core features
Digital notebook mimicking physical rules (no delete, no infinite scroll, one page at a time)
Strike-through functionality instead of a delete key
Ability to review past pages and faintly glimpse content beneath
Supports both typing and handwriting input (finger or stylus)
Intuitive gesture-based interface without menus or buttons
Automatic iCloud synchronization and saving
Designed to enhance memory and deeper thinking
Cross-device compatibility (iPhone, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Vision)
Use cases of IRLpad
Taking focused notes during lectures or meetings without the distraction of endless editing
Brainstorming ideas freely and honestly without the pressure of perfection
Journaling or daily reflection in a sequential and committed manner
Practicing active recall and memory retention by committing thoughts to a finite digital page
Quickly capturing fleeting thoughts or observations in a structured yet unconstrained way
Students seeking a note-taking method that supports memory retention for study material
Creative professionals looking for a less structured, more organic approach to capturing ideas