Fidget

Inspiration

We noticed that students at UofT, including ourselves, were facing two major problems when it came to studying. The first was that since everything was digitalized, it became hard to stay focused on a single task. We also noticed that there was a growing sense of academic isolation. We wanted to create an extension that could solve both of these problems at once.

What it does

There are two modes in Fidget. The first acts as a chrome extension, blocking distractions (by closing tabs) and has a built in pomodoro timer. We also implemented ElevenLabs, which gives verbal cues as well, reminding users to take breaks.

The second mode is a tinder-like app, which allows you to find a study partner. You complete a simple profile with your name, age, courses you're taking, and the times you're available. Then our app will match you with possible partners that you can study with, and you can choose to connect with them. You are also able to send messages through the app, allowing for easy communication.

How we built it

The user interface was built with React.js. The backend devlopment was done through mongoDB.

Challenges we ran into

Our biggest challenge was merging both the chrome extension and the website.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We all picked up multiple new skills through this Hackathon. As most of us are first years, this was our first time making an app through React, and we are proud of that.

What we learned

We learned how to implement React.

What's next for Fidget

Future development possibilities include:

Adding in a digital pet that is nurtured through your study sessions and keeps you company during solo sessions
a reward system, so a certain amount of time spent studying gets you coins
Group study sessions
AI focus coach
Ambience (e.g. white noise)