Final Solution
Ember is more than just an app it's a seamless extension of how we naturally manage tasks. It integrates into real-world behaviors, leveraging IoT and behavioral psychology to create a system that works with users, not against them.
Experience the App
The prototype here is a dynamic interactable element that let's you get first hand experience of the UI of the app
Setup (2 min)
Take the personalization quiz
Review your recommended schedule(pick from the recommended times)
Pick the devices that would work for you
Daily Use (3 min)
Check your reminder timeline
View your progress stats
Review your completion streak
Rewards (1 min)
See your Spark points
Check available rewards
Customize your spark avatar and space
Initial Solution
Learning from User Behavior
Early iterations found that reminders which adapted to user routines rather than interrupting them were significantly more effective. They also found that having physical objects serve these reminders was somewhat obtrusive, and not always viable, which lead to a desire for adaptive reminders from devices they were already using, such as cellphones and smart watches. The UX/UI was expanded to feature a more robust, personalized reminder system that allowed the app to function independently as well as integrate Ember tags.
Design Decisions
Ember was designed to prioritize adaptability, ease of use, and intelligent automation, while ensuring a sense of continuous engagement for users.
Object Integration
Utilizing integrated smart Ember tags in real-world objects such as pill boxes, plant potters, and water bottles allows users to receive contextual reminders when they are free to interact with these objects, ensuring follow-through on reminders.
Intelligent Context Recognition
Device sensors on these smart Ember tags should recognize the ideal opportunity to remind the user by sensing when they are present nearby or are no longer busy and are therefore available to complete the task.
Introducing Gamification
To encourage users to build and maintain habits the system awards points for completing tasks consistently and in a timely manner. These points can then be exchanged for both in-app and real-world rewards based on user interests.
Focus Areas
Smart Context Engine
Proprietary proximity detection and adaptive learning optimize reminder timing.
Gamification & Reinforcement
Progress tracking and rewards boost task completion.
Location-Based Reminders
Uses IoT-enabled devices for real-world task anchoring.
Privacy-First Architecture
Keeps user data on-device for security and instant processing.
Key Insights
Behavior Patterns
Phone notifications are often ignored during high-focus tasks.
Users prefer reminders integrated with their environment (physical & digital hybrid).
People act on tasks when contextually relevant rather than on a rigid schedule.
Pain Points
Notifications arrive at the wrong moment, leading to dismissal.
Existing solutions require too much manual input.
Users want reminders that fit their routines, not disrupt them.
Market Context
28% of Americans are early adopters of smart technology.
The IoT device market is rapidly expanding, yet underutilized for personal task management.
Competitor analysis revealed no fully integrated, context-aware task solutions.
Our research followed a mixed-methods approach combining in-depth qualitative studies with broad quantitative surveys to identify pain points and behavior patterns in reminder usage.
22 user interviews revealed that 0% used specialized reminder apps despite availability.
70% of Americans take prescription medication, yet adherence remains a challenge.
IoT device adoption is projected to grow 100% in 5 years, yet few integrate contextual task management.
Research
Users ignore phone notifications when busy.
Physical reminders (sticky notes, in-person nudges) are more effective than digital ones.
Habit formation thrives with gamification and reinforcement rather than simple alerts.
The Problem
98.2% of people use reminders, yet most still miss critical tasks. For neurodivergent individuals and busy professionals, notifications come at the wrong time or get ignored altogether. Traditional solutions force users to adapt to rigid structures rather than working with their natural behaviors.
Ember
Role
Research, Ideation, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Financial Modeling
Tools
Figma, Adobe XD, Arduino, C++, Zoom, Palisade
Duration
14 weeks
Imagine remembering every task at the right time without disruptive notifications or overwhelming to-do lists. For those with executive dysfunction, traditional reminder systems fail. That's why Ember was born: an intuitive, context-aware task management tool designed for real-world use.
Winning an innovation award for this project reinforced my ability to design products that merge behavioral psychology with IoT technology to drive meaningful engagement. I led the research, design, and usability testing, ensuring that the system adapted to real-world user behaviors rather than forcing rigid task structures.
Developed a contextual reminder system that intelligently adjusts based on user availability, reducing notification fatigue.
Integrated object-based smart tagging to create physical touchpoints for reminders, improving follow-through on tasks.
Designed a gamified engagement model that encourages habit formation, which was highly rated in user feedback.
This project validated my approach to human-centered design—leveraging adaptability, environment-aware interactions, and incentive-driven engagement to solve everyday challenges.