Why we built Traverse
Do you find yourself writing lots of notes but rarely revisiting them?
Reading many books but failing to remember and apply the lessons in real
life? Losing sight of the big picture in a pile of loose snippets of
knowledge?
I felt the same way five years ago, when I tried to learn Mandarin. The number of characters and their complexity simply felt overwhelming, and there seemed to be no way to make it stick.
But I have good news for you: it’s not you, it’s just your method of learning!
If there’s one thing that cognitive science has discovered over the past 50 years, it’s that there is no such thing ‘bad memory’ or ‘being bad at math’.
With the right methods, most people can master almost anything.
That day, when I hit a personal barrier trying to learn Mandarin, was the start of my quest of discovering these methods. Since that day, I’ve read hundreds of research papers (and, let’s be honest, watched easier explanations by popular YouTubers).
My goal was simple: to distill the research into a practical method. For myself, and for others learning though topics.
That is what I have done (and am still improving every day) by building Traverse.
I discovered that some of the most effective methods are actually the least well-known!
My goal with Traverse is to make it easy for you to study using techniques that work. Without having to research anything, but simply by using the app.
Some key principles it incorporates are:
- letting you use visual encoding to gain deep and integrative concept understanding
- flattening the forgetting curve with cognitive load optimisation
- optimally spacing out revisions to learn more in less time
- using spatial memory for long-term retention and creative imagination
You can read more about the science behind Traverse, or read my full guide on evidence-based, effective learning, where I’ve distilled these principles in a practical process. Or even better, you can bring them into practice right away by signing up for Traverse.
In order spread the word about the practical science of learning, I’ve appeared on several podcasts:
And with some success! Traverse is now used by learners at online university OnDeck, researchers at Carnegie Mellon University, students at ETH Zurich and language learners at Mandarin Blueprint.
We are a small, self-funded team working every day to help people learn better. We believe in:
- The search for deeper truth. We’re not satisfied with YouTube-ready catchphrases.
- The beauty of simplicity. Bringing it down to the essence is how knowledge becomes useful.
- Creativity and having fun. Human curiosity is a superpower.
- Connecting as humans. We’re not a big corporation backed by outside investors. We’re just humans, so let’s connect as humans.
Traverse will work for you, no matter your learning style. Put in the work, and don’t be afraid to dive deep with us. You’ll see results you wouldn’t have thought were even possible for you.
You have my promise.
— Dom
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