Nubi | Devpost

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Inspiration

Have you ever picked up your phone to check one notification, only to realize an hour has passed scrolling through social media? We wanted to address the problem of doom-scrolling and help people build healthier relationships with technology.

Inspired by virtual companion games like Tomodachi Life and puzzle games like 2048, we asked ourselves: What if taking a break from our phones could be just as rewarding as using them?

This question inspired us to create Nubi, an interactive digital wellness experience that combines virtual companionship, brain-training games, and meditation to make healthier screen-time habits more engaging.

What it does

Nubi transforms digital wellness into an interactive experience that encourages users to take intentional breaks and engage in activities that support mindfulness and mental well-being.

Virtual Companion: Users interact with a virtual character they can care for, creating a personalized experience.
Brain-Training Games: Inspired by games like 2048, our mini-games provide engaging mental challenges.
Mindfulness and Meditation: Guided breathing exercises help users pause, relax, and reset.
Healthy Habit Building: Nubi encourages users to replace endless scrolling with intentional activities and mindful breaks.
Rewards and Customization: Users can work toward rewards and customize their virtual companion as they progress.

Our goal is to make digital wellness feel less like a chore and more like an enjoyable daily routine.

How we built it

We approached development by breaking Nubi into smaller components, focusing on the virtual companion, interactive mini-games, mindfulness activities, and overall user experience.

We drew inspiration from familiar mobile games while designing an experience with a different purpose: helping users become more intentional about their time and attention. We explored how interactive character behaviors, game mechanics, and rewards could work together to create a more engaging wellness experience.

Our approach emphasizes modular development so individual features can be developed, tested, and improved independently.

Challenges we ran into

One of our biggest challenges was balancing engagement with digital wellness. Many applications are designed to keep users on their screens for as long as possible, while Nubi aims to encourage healthier technology habits. We wanted to create something users would enjoy without simply replacing one form of excessive screen time with another.

Another challenge was bringing together virtual companion interactions, puzzle games, and meditation into one cohesive experience. Each feature serves a different purpose, so creating a consistent user experience required careful planning.

We also had to consider technical challenges, including character animation, interactive game mechanics, and the limitations of measuring screen time across mobile platforms.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of developing an idea that approaches digital wellness from a different perspective. Rather than relying solely on screen-time limits or usage statistics, Nubi explores how positive reinforcement, interactive gameplay, and virtual companionship can encourage healthier habits.

We are especially proud of bringing together gaming and mindfulness into one experience. The combination of a virtual companion, brain-training activities, and meditation creates opportunities to make wellness more approachable and enjoyable.

Most importantly, we are proud to explore how technology can be designed to support people’s well-being rather than simply compete for their attention.

What we learned

Through developing Nubi, we learned that creating meaningful technology requires more than writing code. It involves understanding user behavior, identifying real-world problems, and designing solutions that people genuinely want to use.

We explored how gamification, personalization, and mindfulness can work together to encourage healthier digital habits. We also learned the importance of breaking complex ideas into manageable components, considering technical limitations early, and balancing an engaging user experience with the project’s broader purpose.

What's next for Nubi

We envision expanding Nubi with more brain-training mini-games, customizable virtual companions, personalized meditation exercises, and progress tracking that helps users recognize their habits over time.

We also want to explore responsible ways to detect extended scrolling sessions and provide timely reminders that encourage users to take meaningful breaks.

Our long-term vision is to make Nubi a digital wellness companion that helps users build sustainable habits, become more aware of their screen time, and find a healthier balance between technology and everyday life.