Inspiration
The project was inspired by witnessing a student with ADHD struggle to process a research paper. While many summarization tools exist, we noticed that few address the specific needs of people with cognitive disabilities, leading us to create a multisensory approach that combines text and visuals.
What it does
NoteNest transforms complex content into 3-line summaries that highlight three important key points from the document, with expandable details for each line, visual aids, and audio that adapt based on user cognitive profiles.
How we built it
We built NoteNest as an iPad application using Swift, implementing RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) technology with natural language processing and creating visualization components based on cognitive science principles to ensure information is presented in the most accessible way.
Challenges we ran into
Our biggest challenge was balancing simplicity with depth in our summaries while creating visualizations that enhance understanding without increasing cognitive load, all while developing a personalization algorithm that effectively adapts to different cognitive profiles.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We successfully implemented a RAG system that processes complex materials into clear 3-line summaries, built an adaptive interface for various learning differences, and validated our approach with education specialists and users with cognitive needs.
What we learned
The project taught us how cognitive science principles can be applied to information design, the effectiveness of multisensory learning for diverse cognitive profiles, and the importance of personalization in educational technology.
What's next for ProjectX
Project X will continue to evolve not just as a tool but as a step toward a more cognitively inclusive society. During the prototyping process, we recognized the potential for NoteNest to support aging users as well. As Korea transitions into a super-aged society, with increasing interest in post-retirement education and re-employment, tools that simplify complex information will become essential. The core strength of NoteNest—its ability to distill dense content into accessible, structured summaries—aligns naturally with the cognitive and practical needs of older learners. Simplification in this context is not just about ease of use but about preserving agency, comprehension, and lifelong learning in a rapidly shifting knowledge economy.
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