Project Overview
The Problem
1 in 9 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with ADHD, yet most wearable tech is designed for adults. Kids need a fun, discreet, and rewarding way to build focus without shame or addiction.
The Solution
Wearable Device—For children with ADHD aged 6-12, there is a wearable device with minimal interaction to assist with reminding them when to focus.
A kids tablet app—corresponding app optimized for tablet but also for phone allows the children to access rewards, set their goals and monitor progress.
A caregivers phone app—provides monitoring data, insights and controls over
Context
A concept piece for my Master’s program thinking through a potential better solution for kids with ADHD to focus in school. This project has not progressed beyond an idea.
Why it Matters to Me
As a mother to a young son with ADHD, I'm driven to help him discover the tools and confidence to overcome any challenge.
My Role
Drove the project independently—identifying the problem space, conducting user research, designing the product experience, and creating the final visuals.
An estimated 11.4% of U.S. children aged
3–17 have been diagnosed with ADHD.
An estimated 11.4% of U.S. children aged
3–17 have been diagnosed with ADHD.
An estimated 11.4% of U.S. children aged
3–17 have been diagnosed with ADHD.
Symptoms of ADHD make learning in school difficult.
Symptoms of ADHD make learning in school difficult.
Inattention
Inattention
Inattention
Difficulty staying focused, organizing and prioritizing tasks and following through to the end.
Difficulty staying focused, organizing and prioritizing tasks and following through to the end.
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity
Excessively moving, fidgeting, tapping, or talking.
Excessively moving, fidgeting, tapping, or talking.
Impulsivity
Impulsivity
Impulsivity
Acting without thinking, difficulty with self-control, or an inability to delay gratification.
Acting without thinking, difficulty with self-control, or an inability to delay gratification.
Acting without thinking, difficulty with self-control, or an inability to delay gratification.
Current options for symptom management are lacking when it comes to kids.
Current options for symptom management are lacking when it comes to kids.
Ingestants
Ingestants
Ingestants
These can help but may cause heart and psychiatric problems
These can help but may cause heart and psychiatric problems
These can help but may cause heart and psychiatric problems
Therapies
Therapies
Therapies
Effective but takes time and don’t provide instant feedback.
Effective but takes time and don’t provide instant feedback.
Effective but takes time and don’t provide instant feedback.
Devices
Devices
Devices
These can help but are largely targeted towards adults.
These can help but are largely targeted towards adults.
These can help but are largely targeted towards adults.
Kids need a better solution.
Kids need a better solution.
Kids need a better solution.
Instant feedback
Instant feedback
Instant feedback
alerts them when excessive movement or fidgeting suggests a lack of focus
alerts them when excessive movement or fidgeting suggests a lack of focus
alerts them when excessive movement or fidgeting suggests a lack of focus
Encouragement
Encouragement
Encouragement
helps them stay motivated and positive, even on tough days
helps them stay motivated and positive, even on tough days
helps them stay motivated and positive, even on tough days
Ownership in setting goals
Ownership in setting goals
Ownership in setting goals
builds critical tools for managing symptoms throughout their lives
builds critical tools for managing symptoms throughout their lives
builds critical tools for managing symptoms throughout their lives
Rewards for doing well
Rewards for doing well
Rewards for doing well
builds motivation and keeps them engaged
builds motivation and keeps them engaged
builds motivation and keeps them engaged
SnapFocus combines a slap bracelet and an app to help kids with ADHD succeed in school with a corresponding Caregiver App with full control.
SnapFocus combines a slap bracelet and an app to help kids with ADHD succeed in school with a corresponding Caregiver App with full control.
The Slap Bracelet
The Slap Bracelet
The Slap Bracelet
Fun, customizable, and designed to excite kids, not make them self-conscious.
Fun, customizable, and designed to excite kids, not make them self-conscious.
Fun, customizable, and designed to excite kids, not make them self-conscious.
The Child’s App
The Child’s App
The Child’s App
The tablet-based app lets kids set, track, and review goals outside of school.
The tablet-based app lets kids set, track, and review goals outside of school.
The tablet-based app lets kids set, track, and review goals outside of school.
The Caregiver’s App
The Caregiver’s App
The Caregiver’s App
Deep AI insights into child’s progress and development with full controls
Deep AI insights into child’s progress and development with full controls
Deep AI insights into child’s progress and development with full controls
The Slap Bracelet
Fun, customizable, and designed to excite kids, not make them self-conscious.
The Child’s App
The tablet-based app lets kids set, track, and review goals outside of school.
The Caregiver’s App
Deep AI insights into child’s progress and development with full controls
Instant feedback without the addiction or embarrassment
Wearable Devices can be addicting
Wearable Devices can be addicting
“Children and adolescents with ADHD often show a great affinity with digital media, which may improve compliance, but one has to take into account that the rate of problematic internet use and gaming is enhanced in youth with ADHD (estimated at 37% in ADHD vs. 12% in TD)”
“Children and adolescents with ADHD often show a great affinity with digital media, which may improve compliance, but one has to take into account that the rate of problematic internet use and gaming is enhanced in youth with ADHD (estimated at 37% in ADHD vs. 12% in TD)”
“Children and adolescents with ADHD often show a great affinity with digital media, which may improve compliance, but one has to take into account that the rate of problematic internet use and gaming is enhanced in youth with ADHD (estimated at 37% in ADHD vs. 12% in TD)”
How SnapFocus is Different
Minimal options and features keeps the child focused on learning instead what is on their wrist.
Minimal options and features keeps the child focused on learning instead what is on their wrist.
Minimal options and features keeps the child focused on learning instead what is on their wrist.
Wearable Devices can be embarrassing
Wearable Devices can be embarrassing
Children indicated that they may feel embarrassed if other children knew what the device was for. "What if I set down [my device] and my best friend comes by, and there's an alert right there saying [take deep breaths]. This can be embarrassing."
Children indicated that they may feel embarrassed if other children knew what the device was for. "What if I set down [my device] and my best friend comes by, and there's an alert right there saying [take deep breaths]. This can be embarrassing."
Children indicated that they may feel embarrassed if other children knew what the device was for. "What if I set down [my device] and my best friend comes by, and there's an alert right there saying [take deep breaths]. This can be embarrassing."
How SnapFocus is Different
Fun band options and a minimal interface masque the fact that this is a medical device.
Fun band options and a minimal interface masque the fact that this is a medical device.
Fun band options and a minimal interface masque the fact that this is a medical device.
The interface display with minimal possibilities for interaction
The interface display with minimal possibilities for interaction
focus + vibrate
focus + vibrate
focus + vibrate
when sensors detect excessive motion
when sensors detect excessive motion
when sensors detect excessive motion
time
time
time
1 tap on the device displays the time
1 tap on the device displays the time
1 tap on the device displays the time
goal tracker
goal tracker
goal tracker
2 taps shows how close to their goal
2 taps shows how close to their goal
2 taps shows how close to their goal
sleep mode
sleep mode
sleep mode
displays with tap during sleep hours
displays with tap during sleep hours
displays with tap during sleep hours
recharge
recharge
recharge
displays when time to recharge
displays when time to recharge
displays when time to recharge
Daily encouragement made easy
Positive reinforcement has proven to significantly improve self-regulation over time in terms of needing fewer reminders to complete tasks and exhibit independent behaviors.4
Positive reinforcement has proven to significantly improve self-regulation over time in terms of needing fewer reminders to complete tasks and exhibit independent behaviors.
Positive reinforcement has proven to significantly improve self-regulation over time in terms of needing fewer reminders to complete tasks and exhibit independent behaviors.
Child’s App
Encouragement is displayed daily from caregivers or Antsy the Anteater.
Encouragement is displayed daily from caregivers or Antsy the Anteater.
Encouragement is displayed daily from caregivers or Antsy the Anteater.
No matter what kind of day a child had, new encouragement is displayed each day to help bolster their self esteem and keep them reaching for improvement.
No matter what kind of day a child had, new encouragement is displayed each day to help bolster their self esteem and keep them reaching for improvement.
No matter what kind of day a child had, new encouragement is displayed each day to help bolster their self esteem and keep them reaching for improvement.
AI-Generated content makes encouragement easy
AI-Generated content makes encouragement easy
AI-Generated content makes encouragement easy
Pre-written, customizable comments help caregivers offer consistent and meaningful encouragement which is proven to positively impact kids' progress.
Pre-written, customizable comments help caregivers offer consistent and meaningful encouragement which is proven to positively impact kids' progress.
Pre-written, customizable comments help caregivers offer consistent and meaningful encouragement which is proven to positively impact kids' progress.
Caregiver’s App
Ownership in setting goals
Over time, we can teach children with ADHD ways to control their behavior, thoughts, and pursue long-term goals.
Gamification as motivation
Gamification as motivation
Every 30 minutes of focus unlocks a new Central American animal level. As kids build focus, they progress to higher levels—turning growth into a fun challenge.
Every 30 minutes of focus unlocks a new Central American animal level. As kids build focus, they progress to higher levels—turning growth into a fun challenge.
AI generated goal ideas
AI generated goal ideas
AI analyzes daily and long-term progress to suggest personalized goals tailored to each child’s current needs.
AI analyzes daily and long-term progress to suggest personalized goals tailored to each child’s current needs.
Tracking over time
Tracking over time
AI-generated summaries help kids understand their progress, with views across a day, week, month, or year.
AI-generated summaries help kids understand their progress, with views across a day, week, month, or year.
Rewards for doing well
Children with ADHD in a particular study felt that rewards as positive reinforcement was a significant motivator for setting and following through on goals.
A new story each day they hit their goal
A new story each day they hit their goal
A new story each day they hit their goal
Daily story rewards motivate kids to keep progressing while offering a healthier alternative to addictive screen time from videos and games.
Daily story rewards motivate kids to keep progressing while offering a healthier alternative to addictive screen time from videos and games.
Daily story rewards motivate kids to keep progressing while offering a healthier alternative to addictive screen time from videos and games.
AI personalizes the story
AI personalizes the story
AI personalizes the story
Using AI, we can tailor the story to the child by incorporating them into the story and allowing them choose the characters and story type.
Using AI, we can tailor the story to the child by incorporating them into the story and allowing them choose the characters and story type.
Using AI, we can tailor the story to the child by incorporating them into the story and allowing them choose the characters and story type.
Choose your adventure style keeps the child in control
Choose your adventure style keeps the child in control
Choose your adventure style keeps the child in control
Giving children with ADHD the power to decide what happens next in the story helps build critical decision-making skills and supports their growth.
Giving children with ADHD the power to decide what happens next in the story helps build critical decision-making skills and supports their growth.
Giving children with ADHD the power to decide what happens next in the story helps build critical decision-making skills and supports their growth.
Caregiver control and insights
Control over settings and clear, digestible insights gives caregivers the opportunity to reinforce behaviors and spot issues early. Research repeatedly links caregiver involvement to better academic, behavioral, and family outcomes for children with ADHD.5
See when the child slaps their bracelet
See when the child slaps their bracelet
See when the child slaps their bracelet
A slap signals frustration, pausing vibrations to give the child time to reset. Caregivers can view when and how often this happens.
A slap signals frustration, pausing vibrations to give the child time to reset. Caregivers can view when and how often this happens.
A slap signals frustration, pausing vibrations to give the child time to reset. Caregivers can view when and how often this happens.
AI generated summaries
AI generated summaries
AI generated summaries
A summary provides context and a possible explanation of what is going on to help caregivers interpret the data and understand what is happening.
A summary provides context and a possible explanation of what is going on to help caregivers interpret the data and understand what is happening.
A summary provides context and a possible explanation of what is going on to help caregivers interpret the data and understand what is happening.
Resources for additional help
Resources for additional help
Resources for additional help
Actionable next steps are displayed that directly relate to how the child is doing that day so caregivers can see what they can do to help their child.
Actionable next steps are displayed that directly relate to how the child is doing that day so caregivers can see what they can do to help their child.
Actionable next steps are displayed that directly relate to how the child is doing that day so caregivers can see what they can do to help their child.
Set specific times for focus
Set specific times for focus
Set specific times for focus
Total control over when the slap bracelet is activated for focus mode, allowing them to run, jump and wiggle to their heart’s content during breaks like recess and physical education.
Total control over when the slap bracelet is activated for focus mode, allowing them to run, jump and wiggle to their heart’s content during breaks like recess and physical education.
Total control over when the slap bracelet is activated for focus mode, allowing them to run, jump and wiggle to their heart’s content during breaks like recess and physical education.
Wizard of Oz Study
Link to the Wizard of Oz Video >
What I learned
Too Tight
Too Tight
The bracelet felt tight and uncomfortable for Henry after 5 minutes. Balancing ease of snapping with comfort would be a challenge
The bracelet felt tight and uncomfortable for Henry after 5 minutes. Balancing ease of snapping with comfort would be a challenge
Irritating Material
Irritating Material
After washing his hands, the material got welt and felt irrittating. The material would need to be hypo-allergenic and waterproof
After washing his hands, the material got welt and felt irrittating. The material would need to be hypo-allergenic and waterproof
Potentially Distracting
Potentially Distracting
Henry played with the prototype instead of studying. I need to test if the 5 options are too distracting in a longer-term study.
Henry played with the prototype instead of studying. I need to test if the 5 options are too distracting in a longer-term study.
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