Nurture

Cover Page
Weather
Music
Meditation
Stretching
Stress Levels

Unhealthy study and work habits are common, and have only been worsened since the pandemic eliminated the social component of work and school. Furthermore, those living with ADHD may be suffering from poor mental health brought on by the lack of productivity.

We wanted to build an app that helps users regulate their study habits, with a focus on mental health. Furthermore, we wanted to build an app that we would actually regularly use - something that could help us and everyone else. What we came up with was a companion app to your studies and work; an app that can be opened in the background, an app that does not take attention away from the task at hand, an app helps those with ADHD focus. To achieve these goals, our design principle is simplicity: bold singular colours, easy lines and fonts, and a non-intrusive animation of a tree growing to promote the sense of tranquility. Although our design principle is simplicity, the app was anything but.

We built in the Pomodoro study technique in which an individual works for 25 minutes and take a short break of approximately 5 minutes. During the 25 minutes, the user is allowed to tap on a sapling and the more taps the user makes, the quicker the sapling grows. This was implemented so that those with attention deficit disorders have a way to fidget while listening to a lecture or doing a reading. The tree growth idea came about as a way to make fidgeting interesting while still allowing the user to pay attention. Furthermore, we included very satisfying sound effects to further make the fidgeting experience more soothing. After the 25 minutes, we have a timed break in which the following four activities may be displayed: a live weather update that notifies if the user can take a walk, various stretching exercises to prevent fatigue, a guided mediation video, and a music player that currently plays an upbeat and lively tune but in the future may suggested different kinds of music. After, the user is allowed to choose to end the work day or continue working. By clicking on the end work day option, the user is shown a stress chart plots the stress levels of the user through his or her day derived from the tapping behavioural data transformed via an algorithm.

Our web app was developed using React for UI, and Django for the backend and database. Not being familiar with Django, we had difficulties connecting our REST API to the front-end, but are now proud of the final product we produced. We see this app expanding in several different areas. It has applications to many different populations, including senior citizens, and those experiencing mental health issues. We definitely see this as a useful mobile app, and will consider developing a bluetooth physical fidget device, that sends information back to your computer or phone.