Percepta

Inspiration

Our project began with a fascination for the feeling of unlived lives- the strange sense that a moment has been experienced before, even when it hasn’t. This led us to explore the phenomenon of déjà vu, a cognitive glitch where familiarity and real-time perception briefly overlap.

While researching, we discovered that déjà vu isn’t just a curious experience; for some people it can trigger confusion, anxiety, and hesitation in decision-making.

Through research papers and conversations with a neurologist, we learned that these moments may occur when the brain’s memory recognition systems activate incorrectly. This made us wonder: What if people could sense these changes before it spirals into anxiety and confusion?

This question led us to our concept -Percepta, a speculative system that introduces a new sense of awareness of perceptual stability.

What it does

Percepta is a wearable system that detects patterns associated with perceptual instability and translates them into subtle sensory feedback.

Inspired by neurological phenomena like déjà vu, the system monitors signals related to cognitive load, emotional state, and environmental triggers. When it detects patterns that may precede moments of perceptual confusion or decision anxiety, it gently alerts the user.

Rather than interrupting the user, Percepta communicates through subtle cues such as vibrations, visual signals, or ambient feedback, allowing the user to pause, ground themselves, and make decisions with better awareness.

Over time, the system maps patterns between emotional states, environments, and moments of déjà vu, helping users understand how subconscious experiences may influence perception and decision-making.

How we built it

We approached Percepta as a multi-touchpoint speculative system rather than a single interface. The ecosystem includes:

A wearable sensing device (behind-the-ear patch) that continuously detects physiological signals and environmental context
Smart glasses integration that provides subtle visual alerts and guidance in real-world situations
A companion mobile interface where users can explore patterns.

Using Figma Make, we prototyped the interactive experience and simulated real-world scenarios where Percepta might activate. This allowed us to create a demo experience that lets judges explore how the system would function in everyday situations. We also designed the interaction model to be non-intrusive and intuitive, ensuring the system blends into daily life.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was translating an abstract neurological concept into a tangible design experience.

Déjà vu is subjective, unpredictable, and difficult to measure directly. Instead of attempting to detect the phenomenon itself, we focused on identifying surrounding signals and patterns that might correlate with perceptual instability.

Another challenge was designing interactions that felt subtle rather than overwhelming. Since the goal is to support cognitive clarity, the feedback had to remain minimal and ambient instead of distracting.

Finally, we had to balance scientific grounding with speculative design, ensuring that the concept remained believable while still pushing the boundaries of how technology could augment human perception.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of transforming a philosophical idea about perception and memory into a structured design concept. Our project: -Frames déjà vu as a design opportunity rather than just a neurological curiosity
-Proposes a new form of sensory augmentation focused on perceptual awareness
-Explores multiple physical touchpoints -Uses storytelling and interaction design to make an invisible cognitive process understandable

Most importantly, the concept invites people to reflect on how their minds interpret reality.

What we learned

This project taught us that many aspects of human experience -memory, perception, and intuition -operate below conscious awareness, yet strongly influence how we think and behave. Through research and prototyping, we realized that designing for the mind requires extreme subtlety. The most effective interfaces are often the ones that intervene the least.

What's next for Percepta

Percepta is currently a speculative prototype, but it opens possibilities for future exploration.

-Percepta could extend beyond general anxiety management and support individuals with neurological conditions such as epilepsy. Some people with epilepsy experience intense sensations of déjà vu as an early warning sign before certain types of seizures, particularly those related to the temporal lobe.

-A system that can track patterns of perceptual instability, sensory overload, or unusual familiarity signals could potentially help detect these early cognitive changes. By recognizing and alerting users to these patterns, the technology could give individuals more time to prepare, seek help, or move to a safer environment.

While speculative, this approach highlights how cognitive awareness tools might eventually contribute to better monitoring and management of neurological conditions