When studying or working, sometimes it is hard to muster our concentration and start working without any breaks. Conversely, sometimes we are working too deeply, forgetting to take a break, and ended up stuck in a problem we’re trying to solve, or feeling fatigued. In this kind of case, break is necessary to refresh our mind.

Another problem that we met when studying is distractions. We have our smart phone on our hand, and it gives us plenty of distractions.

The project provides a straightforward solution to those problems. It is a timer lamp based off the Pomodoro technique. This technique requires a person to set a timer for a set time before start working. When the time is up, the person has to take a short break. In this project, the user is required to put their phone inside the device (the user has to open a drawer, put it inside, then close the drawer), thus eliminating one distraction. When the phone is in, it triggers the device to start the timer. During this “standby” period, the device will emit a soft blue light with a relaxing breathing pattern. The purpose of this is to hopefully give the user a sense of calm and makes them feeling accompanied, akin to a white noise. Once the timer is up, the device will blink red, and automatically push the phone outside. This is intended as a “reward” to the user.

Storyboard: