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Inspiration

We were inspired by popular language-learning platforms like Duolingo and wanted to explore how an unconventional form of negative reinforcement could impact the learning process. The idea of introducing mild physical stimuli, such as a shock, stemmed from a curiosity about how different motivators can influence human behavior and retention.

What it does

This app takes the standard question-and-answer format of language learning to the next level by incorporating a shock mechanism. If a user answers a question incorrectly, they receive a small shock, creating an intense reinforcement mechanism intended to encourage greater focus and memory retention.

How we built it

We used React, Next.js for the front end. The hardware component involves a dog shock collar that delivers the shock, controlled via a Flipper Zero for signal transmission with the app. We utilized the OpenAI API to generate questions, options and answers and used a simple API to communicate between the learning platform and the wristband, synchronizing the user's responses with the feedback.

Challenges we ran into

One of the main challenges was ensuring the shock intensity was both safe and effective. Finding a balance between an attention-getting stimulus and something that was not overly painful was tricky.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We're proud of creating a fully functional prototype that integrates hardware with software, something that required interdisciplinary work between software engineering and hardware design. We are also proud our frontend with 3D rendering

What we learned

We learned a lot about the psychology of learning, specifically how negative reinforcement can be both a motivator and a deterrent. On the technical side, we improved our skills in hardware-software integration, ensuring user safety when dealing with physical stimuli.

What's next for Brainstorm

For the future, we plan to conduct research studies to better understand the effects of this learning method. We also want to refine the hardware to make it more comfortable and potentially less intimidating. Additionally, we are exploring other forms of feedback, to provide users with a variety of reinforcement options.