Lock-In

Inspiration

I kept running out of snacks just a few days after grocery shopping, which left me frustrated and unsatisfied for the rest of the week. At the same time, I wanted to start running consistently to train for an upcoming marathon. I started wondering: instead of fighting bad habits directly, could I use them to reinforce better ones?

What it does

Lock-In is a smart-lock system paired with a habit-tracking app that controls access to everyday distractions and turns them into rewards. Items like snacks or gaming devices stay locked until you complete habits you’ve committed to, such as going for a run or finishing a workout.

How we built it

We designed a physical lock that can be attached to containers or devices and connected it to a mobile app. The app tracks habit completion and communicates with the lock to grant or deny access based on user-defined rules.

Challenges we ran into

Narrowing the scope of the project was difficult because I wanted to integrate computer vision and some other things from the sponsors but it was not feasible or practical given the short time we had.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We created a system that turns abstract goals into concrete actions by changing the environment, not just relying on willpower. Lock-In reframes self-control as something you design, not something you constantly fight.

What we learned

We learned to focus on the idea before touching the technology, even if it's more fun.

What's next for Lock-In

Next, design a physical housing for the lock, integrate with fitness trackers and nutrition apps, expand toward addiction recovery and parenting as other potential markets.

Built With

• ifmagic
• react