Cadence

Inspiration

We track almost everything about our lives — our steps, sleep, productivity, and screen time. But one important resource is still mostly invisible: our social energy.

Some interactions leave us energized, while others quietly drain us. Cadence started with the idea that social life has its own kind of metabolism, and we wanted to explore what it might look like if people could better understand and manage it.

What it does

Cadence helps users understand their Social Metabolic Rate (SMR) — how different social interactions affect their energy over time.

The system combines a mobile app with a companion wearable device called Pulse. The app analyzes signals like calendar activity, communication patterns, and quick check-ins to surface patterns in a user’s social energy.

Over time, Cadence helps users anticipate fatigue, understand which interactions restore or drain them, and develop a more intentional rhythm for social life.

How we built it

Cadence began as a speculative design exploration of how technology might support social self-awareness.

We designed a system that combines longer-term insights in a mobile app with subtle real-time feedback from a wearable projection device. The app helps users reflect on patterns over time, while the wearable provides quick, screen-free awareness through an organic visual glyph.

Our goal was to create a system that supports reflection without encouraging over-optimization.

Challenges we ran into

One challenge was representing social energy without oversimplifying relationships. Human interactions are complex, so we worked to avoid labeling people or relationships as inherently “good” or “bad.”

Another challenge was designing strong privacy guardrails while still allowing the system to learn from signals like calendar activity and communication patterns.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re especially proud of the Pulse palm projection interface, which lets users check in on their social state through a subtle visual glyph instead of another screen.

We’re also proud of framing the system around the idea of social metabolism, which emphasizes balance and awareness rather than productivity or optimization.

What we learned

Designing for something as subjective as social energy requires flexibility and humility. People experience interactions very differently, and any system representing that needs to stay interpretive rather than definitive.

We also learned that tools for self-awareness work best when they are subtle and reflective, not overly prescriptive.

What's next for Cadence

Future versions of Cadence could explore shared social awareness. For example, multiple devices could detect the overall “energy” of a room and visualize it as a kind of social weather.

We’re also interested in designing small rituals for connection, like two users placing their palms together to visually check in on their social states.

Built With

• figma