Sprout
Transcript: For each interval of time (typical: 25 minutes, but this is customizable), you plant a seed and have it grow through the 25 minutes. If you leave the app before the 25 min. mark, you lose your progress and the plant dies. In addition to the app’s main features, we have added a tool to help us confirm that the person is present and not just letting the app run to rack up points. The more time you spend being productive, the better plants you can grow. Each month we can either mail plants or any of our other incentives to your address obtained in the original sign up process. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started."- Mark Twain In Davidow's article, Exploiting the Neuroscience of Internet Addiction, he states that "Thanks to neuroscience, were beginning to understand that achieving a goal or anticipating the reward of new content for completing a task can excite the neurons in the ventral tegmental area of the mid brain, which releases the dopamine into the brains pleasure centers." Instead of the concept of phones being our distraction and the reason we look for new content we are trying to implement the idea of still being able to have your phone at hand but also having it to be productive and earn rewards for the amount of time you spend on work in general. Sprout will hopefully excite users to work for their individual goal and cycle through a repetitive state of being productive. Problem & Solution As an ADDITIONAL feature, we've implemented a feature that asks the person if they’re “still there”-- this feature being inspired by Netflix. With this, we can ensure that the person doesn’t just nod off or something with their time, AND people get to conserve energy. Pitch The goal of Sprout is to allow people to take breaks from their phones and focus on being productive and getting work done. The app does not restrict users from using their phone in any intense way. Sprout requires you to be present on the app and leave it open for as long as you are working and being productive. According to NBC News, "Studies have proven that house plants improve concentration and productivity (by up to 15%), reduce stress levels, and boost your mood." Which is why users will receive an incentive of flowers and succulents as well as tea and coffee sent straight to their door, in accordance with the amount of points that they collect monthly. Extended Research: The app has to be on for the entirety of the time set by the user. The one hour limit, the disclaimer, and the servers will ensure that nobody’s battery is accidentally sapped completely (unless they’re for some reason running Sprout on 5%.) A screen will be shown at the end of the interval asking the person to confirm if they’re still there. People are easily susceptible to overuse their mobile devices. In this day and age, everything is connected, and it's hard to stay away from all of the virtual activity. Bill Davidow has expressed in his article, Exploiting the Neuroscience of Internet Addiction, "...Internet users have become so obsessed with the Internet that its use is undermining their social relationships, their family life and marriage, and effectiveness at work." Because phones have become so accessible and incorporated into our daily lives, it becomes harder to break away from addictive habits and routines. Sprout is working toward helping teens reclaim their work lives by using their phones as tools to increase productivity. Sprout will allow teens to work toward getting points by being present on the app and leaving in open for however long they are doing productive work. Points earned offline will still be counted and banked, as long as the app stays open throughout. The next time you log on through the internet, or you have a secure connection, all of the collected points will be deposited instantly. Our Logo By: Leuj, Reshma, Abby, and Anastasiya Two national surveys show that teens who spend three or more hours a day on electronic devices are 28 percent more likely to get less than seven hours of sleep than those who spend fewer than three hours, and teens who visit social-media sites every day are 19 percent more likely to be sleep deprived. -Twenge (Have smartphones destroyed our generation?) “But doing one thing at a time is hard, because it means asserting ourselves over what technology makes easy and what feels productive in the short term. Multitasking comes with its own high, but when we chase after this feeling, we pursue an illusion.” -Turkle Sprout Features Work Sited Sprout Features The Pomodoro Technique Davidow, Bill. “Exploiting the Neuroscience of Internet Addiction.” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 18 July 2012, https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/07/exploiting-the-neuroscience-of-internet-addiction/259820/. Lee, Sophie. “Why Indoor Plants Make You Feel Better.” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 13 July 2017,