DoDo - “Reach out – share your feeling!”

• 

  DoDo - Public Mental Wellness App

Inspiration

I take the bus to school every day and notice how people are very quiet and yet isolated. Even in class, students prefer to interact with each other on the app, rather than talking to each other. I explore more and understand that the modern digital platforms capture attention through dopamine-driven systems such as likes, notifications, and endless scrolling. While people are more digitally connected than ever, they are often deprived of real-world sensory experiences such as eye contact, tone of voice, touch, and physical presence. This lack of sensory interaction can weaken emotional regulation and increase feelings of isolation, even in crowded spaces. This social communication problem relates to the Mirror Neuron System, the neurons that activate when we observe someone else’s actions or emotions, helping us feel empathy and understand others.

What it does

DoDo is an app that displays the emotional feelings of people in a public setting (in this case the bus station). People see the Emotional Map, feel connected, and start to share their feelings anonymously. A phygital public experience that encourages people to look up from their phones and reconnect with the humans around them. Sensors in public spaces (bus stations, transit hubs, squares) passively read emotional signals—facial expression —without requiring interaction. The data is combined into a live “emotional map” that visualizes the collective mood of the space through generative, organic visuals. People can anonymously share warmth, stories, or encouragement into the environment. Messages aren’t directed to anyone specific—like releasing a kind note into the universe, where the person who needs it most may receive it. Part public art installation, part mental-health research tool, part social commentary, and part anonymous kindness network, the experience uses playful cartoon avatars and living data visuals to make invisible human emotions visible—and remind people they are not alone. Our concept raises awareness of social mental health by visualizing the emotions of people in shared spaces. It creates a safe and anonymous place for individuals to express and share their feelings through interactive digital actions that reconnect them with real human sensory experiences. 🌱

How we built it

There are 2 main components plays in this concept: A large public display “Emotional map” shows a live, beautiful generative visualization of the collective mood. People can download an app to interact with this visualization in real-time. The app allows: a. Anonymous sharing of positive messages, encouragement, life experiences b. People going through hard times can share their feelings and receive anonymous support c. Users choose to be anonymous OR represented as cartoon characters d. No direct person-to-person targeting — it's more like casting energy into a shared space

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The Return Nudging people to look up from their phones and notice the humans around them. As users engage with the installation and the app, they begin to notice the emotional atmosphere around them and feel part of a collective human experience. The return is a renewed awareness of others, increased empathy, and a subtle shift away from isolated digital consumption toward real-world human connection. The system becomes part art installation, part mental health tool, and part anonymous kindness network that restores emotional awareness in public life.

What's next for DoDo - “Reach out – share your feeling!”

Future Potential Possible expansion: • urban mental health analytics • community wellbeing research • public art installations • real-time emotional city dashboards

Built With

• chat
• figma
• gpt
• https://www.figma.com/make/