Eidetic

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Emotional Journal/Galery

Inspiration

Eidetic was inspired by the struggle faced by individuals with alexithymia, a condition that makes it difficult to identify and describe emotions. The lack of accessible tools for expressing emotions in non-verbal ways led to the idea of creating a visual journaling platform that converts somatic feelings into expressive art. The goal was to help users explore their emotions through abstract visual representations, bypassing the need for traditional emotional labels and enabling deeper self-reflection.

What it does

Eidetic translates internal, somatic feelings into visual art. Users describe their emotional state using somatic descriptors (e.g., "heavy," "racing," "cloudy"), and the tool generates art based on those keywords. This allows people with alexithymia to visualize and reflect on their emotions without the pressure to verbalize them. It’s designed as a support tool, helping users build emotional awareness and track their emotional journeys over time.

How we built it

We built Eidetic using the following technologies:

Frontend: React and TailwindCSS for a responsive and modern user interface.
Backend: Next.js API routes to handle image generation and data storage.
Image Generation: Integrated with Pollinations AI to generate images based on the somatic words users provide.
Database: Supabase for storing user-created images and journaling data.
Art and Insight: Each generated image is analyzed, and an insight is provided to help users reflect on their feelings. The project was built with accessibility and emotional support in mind, ensuring that it was easy to use without needing advanced technical skills. The AI-generated art plays a central role in the project’s goal of helping users connect with their inner emotional world.

Challenges we ran into

CORS Issues: Pollinations AI’s images were blocked by CORS policies, preventing us from fetching images directly from the browser. We overcame this by creating an API proxy that safely fetched the images on the server-side.
User Experience: Designing an intuitive experience for users with alexithymia was challenging. We had to ensure that the tool felt accessible and non-judgmental while remaining effective in helping users express and understand their emotions.
Generating Meaningful Art: While the art generated by Pollinations AI was visually appealing, we had to ensure it resonated emotionally with users. Striking a balance between artistic expression and therapeutic value was key.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Innovative Emotional Support Tool: Eidetic offers a non-verbal, creative approach to emotional expression for people with alexithymia, a space that was previously underexplored.
Successful Integration with Pollinations AI: The seamless integration of AI to generate personalized art from user input is a standout feature.
Reflective Gallery: The inclusion of a personal gallery allows users to track their emotional journey over time and see their progress.
Crisis Awareness: Eidetic provides safety checks when users input potentially harmful emotional words (e.g., suicide ideation), offering helpful resources when needed.

What we learned

User-Centered Design: The most valuable lesson was learning how to design with accessibility in mind. For users with alexithymia, traditional tools often fall short — a non-verbal, visual approach was key to breaking down emotional barriers.
AI Integration: We learned the challenges and power of integrating AI tools like Pollinations, and the fine-tuning required to generate art that both reflects and supports emotional states.
Emotional Expression is Complex: Not every user’s experience is the same, and what works for one person may not work for another. Eidetic is a starting point for a larger conversation around emotional expression and support.

What's next for Eidetic

AI Model Customization: We plan to refine the AI art generation to better respond to specific emotional states and provide even more tailored visual experiences.
Mental Health Resources: We aim to integrate additional mental health resources and insights, guiding users through their emotional journey with educational content.
Expanded Support for Other Conditions: The tool could be adapted for use by individuals with other emotional or cognitive challenges, expanding its utility beyond alexithymia.
Mobile App: Bringing Eidetic to mobile platforms will increase accessibility and allow users to engage with the tool more easily.