Sustained

1. Prototype link

Sustained Prototype

2. Describe your project (150)

As college undergraduates leave their homes, a challenge they face is their diet. Sustained will not only instill students with healthy eating habits but maintain them as well.

To begin, the user answers a series of questions to gauge their goals, history, and preferences. Sustained’s main feature is its AI chatbot. In one short video call, the AI will combine current data—facial expression, mood, and appearance—with past analytics to recommend novel meal sets for students to taste.

Users can then scan their entire meal and the AI will instantly recognize and log each dish’s nutritional value. It will record each nutritional intake and update the user’s daily progress bars. Furthermore, photos can be shared on Sustained Patrons, giving undergraduates a chance to discover and bond with their peers.

Sustained increases healthy habits by introducing users to new, delicious foods and experiences because eating healthy should not restrict: it should sustain.

3. Describe your research process and findings. If you conducted any surveys or interviews, please include the survey form and/or interview questions here. If you conducted secondary research by pulling from online sources, please include a link to your sources. (500)

As a team of undergraduates, we ideated by reflecting. The obstacles we consistently faced centered around the rocky transition from dependency to independence as we crossed the threshold into college. From cooking to laundry, daily chores that used to be split between a family were now shouldered by one. In order to benefit society with our product, we needed to foster user interaction and engagement. Thus, we settled on a food tracking app that utilizes AI’s advanced analytical skills to recommend personalized meals catered to the user’s goals, mood, and preferences.

We surveyed the undergrad population about eating habits and dietary struggles. According to the survey, 63% of undergrads admit that their eating habits changed significantly after entering college. 74.1% found it difficult to adjust to college dining. Of those who stated that they have set nutritional goals in the past, most say the lack of nutritional info and knowledge on proper serving sizes or food groups was a huge stumbling block. In fact, more than half of the respondents wanted to understand more about their nutritional intake. In addition, 52% wished their menus were more diverse and ranged, and 60% hoped to see healthier options on their dining menus. Overall, it is reasonable to conclude that undergraduates are aware of their changing diets and most of them want to improve.

In addition to polling the population, we also conducted competitive analysis. Similar apps such as MyFitnessPal, CalorieCounter, MealPrep Pro Planner & Recipes, and Unimeal: Weight Loss Plan allow users to log in their meals and track their nutrition. Several features they share include scanning barcodes, diet and fitness plans, and access to a large database of ingredients and meals. Yet most features are hidden behind a premium paywall and all apps lacked a customizable aspect. While users are evidently interested in food trackers, there is a gap in the market since unemployed students are very unlikely to be able to afford premium subscriptions.

4. Describe your most important design decisions. What research findings and/or user testing results led you to make these decisions?

From the results of our research, we gathered that users desired a food tracking app that would hold them accountable for their health goals and maintain a streak. To solve this issue, our application needs to be engaging, riveting, and innovative. Here is where AI comes in. Given the fact that AI is a large learning model, we plan to not only utilize AI’s analytical prowess but to also tap into its “consciousness.” Users can customize their chatbot to switch between different personas, from loving-but-strict-mentor to Beyonce herself. Having a highly personable companion will form closer ties between user and program.

Moreover, the hands-free AI scanner provides a better user experience than a barcode scanner. With AI’s heightened recognition capabilities, users can upload an entire meal to Sustained without having to manually log items in or fish discarded packaging out of the trash to scan the barcode.

However, one might wonder: from what database will our AI draw its knowledge from? We will harvest our photos from Sustained’s social platform, Sustained Patrons, where users can post photos of their meals and interact with their friends’ pictures. For incoming undergrads, this is a great way to meet and interact with their peers in college, and can lead to future excursions and meet ups.

Built With

• figma