Scentral

Logo of our app Scentral
Screenshot of homepage of the app
User journey
screenshot of the balance page

Inspiration

Scentral was inspired by the idea that our bodies constantly emit chemical signals that may reflect emotional and physical changes before we consciously notice them. This concept came from stories about dogs being able to detect when their owners are pregnant or experiencing an insulin crash. We had also heard about a woman who could reportedly smell when someone had Parkinson’s disease. These examples inspired us to explore new ways scientists might detect disease. Combined with our interest in scent because of its strong connection to emotion and memory, we began asking: what if invisible chemical signals could be measured and translated into meaningful self-awareness?

What it does

Scentral is a wearable band paired with a companion app that detects subtle chemical patterns emitted by the body and translates them into emotional and wellness insights. It helps users recognize patterns such as calm, stress, fatigue, and potential irregular physiological shifts. The wellness side focuses on physical irregularities such as inflammation levels, toxin levels, and broader metabolic strains. Instead of overwhelming users with raw chemical data, the app presents clear summaries, gentle alerts, and supportive insights while maintaining privacy.

How we built it

We designed Scentral as a wearable chemical sensing band supported by a structured mobile interface. We developed user personas, mapped journeys, created storyboards, and organized the app into key sections including Home, Balance, Health, History, and Profile. Our design follows a detect, visualize, reflect, and act framework to ensure clarity and usability.

Challenges we ran into

One major challenge was designing for invisible data. Chemical signals are abstract and difficult to visualize in an intuitive way. Another challenge was creating health alerts that inform without causing fear. We had to carefully use neutral language and include opt in controls to protect user autonomy.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of translating a complex chemical sensing concept into a calm, user centered wellness experience. We successfully balanced emotional wellbeing with preventative health awareness while prioritizing privacy and ethical safeguards.

What we learned

We learned how important tone, transparency, and responsible design are when working with sensitive wellness information. We also gained insight into designing for emerging sensing technologies and making abstract biological data understandable.

What’s next for Scentral

Next steps include refining the sensing feasibility of the wearable band, validating detection thresholds, conducting user testing, and exploring partnerships in health technology research to further develop and evaluate the concept.