LockedIn

Inspiration

Students with ADHD, especially those from low-income backgrounds, often face challenges maintaining focus while reading, and may have limited access to specialized learning tools. We wanted to design a low-cost, widely accessible system that could help these students improve attention and engagement with text, using readily available technology.

What it does

The Attention Locus Tracking Assistive Reading System (ALTARS) is a web browser extension composed of two integrated components: an attention tracking system and an assistive reading system.

The attention tracking system uses webcam-based eye tracking to monitor when and where the user may lose focus.
When attention loss is detected, the assistive reading system intervenes to guide the reader back to the text. Sentences at the point of attention drift are rendered in bionic text (selectively bolded segments of words) to reduce cognitive load and refocus attention.
To further support engagement, ALTARS generates context-relevant images that complement the text, turning imagination into a tool that enhances the reading experience. Because it is a web extension, ALTARS is cost-effective and easily available, running on standard devices like library computers or personal laptops.

What we learned

We learned that a practical, user-centered solution is more impactful than a highly technical idea that does not directly address stakeholder needs. Focusing on accessibility, low cost, and usability ensured our solution was both effective and achievable within the hackathon’s constraints.