L. Sun, P. Zhang, R. Lin, A. Chan, J.X. Lei
In today's hyper-connected world, mobile phone usage has become an integral part of our daily lives, often leading to stress and anxiety due to constant notifications and the fear of missing out (FOMO). Despite the efficiency and convenience that smartphones provide, they have also blurred the boundaries between work and personal life, impacting the quality of human interactions. This project aims to address these issues by developing a website that encourages users to adopt healthier lifestyles and reduce their phone usage.
The proposed website will be sponsored by brands such as sportswear companies, zoos, museums, gyms, and libraries, and will offer a range of features designed to motivate users to engage in more meaningful offline activities. Key features include the ability to join groups, participate in competitions, track personal and group points based on a dopamine index, and monitor idle phone time. The dopamine index will be visually represented through brain diagrams showing growth and color changes, reflecting users' progress.
The website will provide various activities that users can engage in to earn points, such as reading, exercising, volunteering, cooking, and helping friends. These activities will be tracked and summarized weekly, boosting users' confidence and encouraging continued participation. Rewards for reduced phone usage will include both intrinsic and extrinsic incentives, such as personal satisfaction, celebrity autographs, scholarships, freebies, family outings, friend gifts, school club points, and opportunities for meaningful social interactions.
To ensure a user-friendly experience, the website will feature gradual goal setting, efficient phone usage options (e.g., allowing notifications only during designated rest times), and support from phone usage coaches who have successfully managed their own phone habits. By promoting efficient phone use and fostering genuine social connections, this website aims to improve users' overall well-being and create a more balanced lifestyle.
Keywords: Education, technology, mental health, development.