Flow Sense

Flow Sense allows users to push themselves to enter a focus state where they can perform their best and finish their tasks with least distractions.

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Modern productivity tools often rely on streaks, reminders, and self-discipline, which can unintentionally create pressure or guilt when users fail to maintain consistency. We were inspired to explore a different approach: what if focus could be encouraged through external support rather than internal pressure?

The idea behind FlowSense came from observing how difficult it is for people to enter a flow state in today’s distraction-heavy digital environments. Many people struggle with fragmented attention, stress responses, and frequent context switching. These challenges are often tied to subtle physiological and cognitive signals that humans cannot easily perceive.

We were particularly inspired by the concept of heightened sensory awareness, especially lesser-known human senses such as interoception (internal body awareness), chronoception (sense of time), and emotional perception. These senses influence whether a person can enter deep focus, but they are rarely made visible in everyday tools.

FlowSense explores how a physical device combined with software could act as a companion that helps users become aware of these invisible signals and gently guide them toward productive states.

What it does

FlowSense is a focus productivity system that combines a physical device with a digital companion platform to help users achieve and maintain deep work.

The system introduces a physical “focus companion” device that sits on top of a laptop bezel. This device includes:

  • a micro display showing an animated pixel character
  • an IR sensor for presence detection
  • a camera sensor for activity sensing

Rather than relying on streak-based motivation, Flow Sense uses external triggers and feedback loops to support focus.

Key capabilities include:

  • Focus Sessions
    Users start focus sessions directly from the device using fixed timers (25 or 50 minutes).

  • Presence Detection
    The IR sensor detects whether the user is physically present at their desk. If the user leaves, the session can automatically pause.

  • Character Companion
    A pixel character displayed on the device reflects the user’s focus state, creating an emotional connection and visual feedback.

  • Reward System
    Users earn points through completed sessions, unlocking characters, wallpapers, and rewards through digital blind boxes.

  • Analytics and Reflection
    The system visualises focus time, consistency, and personal goals to help users understand their work patterns.

The goal is to create a supportive ecosystem that nudges users into flow without overwhelming them with productivity pressure.

How we built it

FlowSense was designed as a hybrid hardware–software system.

Hardware Concept

We designed a companion device that sits on top of a laptop screen. The device integrates several sensing components:

  • IR sensor: to detect user presence at the desk
  • Camera sensor: to sense activity patterns
  • Micro display: to show animated pixel characters

This hardware acts as the physical trigger for focus sessions, encouraging users to engage with the system in a tangible way.

Software Platform

The software platform includes several modules:

  • Dashboard** showing focus progress and device status
  • Focus Session Timer with visual progress indicators
  • Environment prompt with reminders before focus session
  • Immediate feedback during focus session with progress percentage
  • Character Selection System with unlockable pixel companions
  • Reward System using focus points and blind boxes
  • Analytics Dashboard showing focus trends and insights

Design Tools

The interface and interaction concepts were prototyped using:

  • Figma for UI and system flows
  • Figma Make to generate interface concepts and hardware visualisations
  • Sprite sheet animations to bring the pixel characters to life

We also explored how sensor signals and behavioral data could translate into visual feedback through the animated companion.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was balancing productivity features with emotional design.

Many productivity tools become overwhelming because they emphasize performance metrics too heavily. We had to carefully design the system so that it felt supportive rather than judgmental.

Another challenge was designing the hardware form factor. Initially, we explored embedding the interface in the MacBook notch, but later shifted to a dedicated bezel device to give the companion more physical presence and interaction potential.

We also faced design challenges in:

  • integrating sensors without making users feel monitored
  • designing character animations that communicate states without distracting users
  • ensuring the system promotes focus rather than becoming another source of interruption

Finally, translating abstract cognitive states like flow and emotional tension into meaningful visual feedback required multiple iterations.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of several aspects of FlowSense.

First, we successfully designed a system that combines hardware interaction, behavioral design, and emotional feedback into a single experience.

Second, the pixel character companion creates a playful but meaningful way for users to understand their focus state without relying on complex data dashboards.

Third, the project demonstrates how external devices can support cognitive wellbeing, rather than relying solely on screen-based productivity tools.

We also developed a coherent ecosystem that includes:

  • a physical device
  • an interactive software platform
  • gamified rewards
  • reflective analytics

Together, these elements form a holistic focus support system.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned that focus is not purely a matter of discipline. It is deeply influenced by environmental cues, physiological signals, and emotional states.

We also learned that external systems can help regulate behavior more effectively than self-imposed pressure. By introducing physical interaction, visual companions, and subtle feedback loops, it becomes easier to guide users into productive states.

Another important insight was the value of designing for emotional connection. The animated companion transforms the device from a simple productivity tool into a supportive presence.

Finally, this project helped us explore the intersection between:

  • hardware interaction design
  • behavioral psychology
  • gamification
  • digital wellness.

What's next for FlowSense

In the future, we would like to expand FlowSense in several directions.

One direction is improving the sensor intelligence of the device. By incorporating better sensing techniques, the system could more accurately detect stress, fatigue, and flow readiness.

Another opportunity is enhancing the character ecosystem, allowing characters to evolve over time and respond more dynamically to user behavior.

We also plan to explore community features, where users can share focus progress and participate in collective focus sessions.

Finally, we are interested in developing a working hardware prototype to test how the device performs in real-world environments.

Our long-term vision is for FlowSense to become a calm technology that quietly supports people’s ability to focus, create, and achieve their goals.

Built With

  • figma
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