Inspiration
Our inspiration for the project was wanting to help our peers with a common phenomenon - bad posture. The Pomodoro timer attachment was to help studying with a well known study technique.
What it does
The Study Buddy project is designed to help students maintain proper posture and improve focus during study sessions. It utilizes an ultrasonic sensor to measure the user’s distance from the screen and provides alerts when posture adjustments are necessary, thereby reducing the risk of back pain and eye strain. In addition, it features a Pomodoro timer that allows users to set personalized study and break intervals, promoting productivity, balance, and overall well-being.
How we built it
After finally finalizing our idea, we used Tinkercad to make online visualization of our product. We proceeded to connect the hardware, give power to breadboard using the Arduino, and connect the LCD, speaker, and ultrasonic sensor. We also had to use C++ to run the device. Some of our members didn't previously know C++ and used the Arduino documentation to follow along and learn to code.
Challenges we ran into
One of the main challenges we faced was deciding on a project idea that everyone agreed on. We had multiple concepts at first and even used a spinning wheel to make our final decision. Once we started building, we faced issues with connecting the hardware components, especially when wiring the ultrasonic sensor and LCD display correctly. Another challenge was getting accurate distance readings to detect slouching without false alerts. We also had to troubleshoot errors while uploading the code to the Arduino due to missing ports and board setup issues. Time management was another difficulty, as we had to balance coding, testing, and assembling the hardware within the limited hackathon time.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We are helping students with strategies to not feel overwhelmed studying. We felt that keeping posture upright really does help not feel sore later, as well as the Pomodoro assisting with time management. We are also proud of completing our project on time!
What we learned
Our computer science members learned how to use C++ for the first time. We also learned to be creative with our project for our idea and coming up with solutions.
What's next for Study Buddy
Next, we want Study Buddy to allow personalization for users, such as having an option to select times and modes with a button. Additionally, we currently use a speaker with a beep to warn the user of incorrect posture, and we would like to use a less alarming sound in the future. Finally, we would hope to 3D print case for Ultrasonic sensor, add batteries, and overall make our device more aesthetic.
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