Week #4: Teamwork Makes the Dream Work 🫂👯‍♀️

Defining the Problem and Taking It Further

This week was all about narrowing our focus and delving deeper into the heart of our chosen problem. After much discussion and analysis, we decided to address the issue of distraction caused by smartphones during homework sessions among teenagers. It's a prevalent challenge that impacts their productivity and ability to concentrate, and we are committed to finding a meaningful solution.

User Research: Reinforcing Our Findings

Building on our earlier interviews with both parents and teenagers, we conducted four additional interviews with teenagers to gain more insight. These conversations reinforced our understanding of the problem and validated our initial assumptions. Teenagers repeatedly mentioned how their phones divert their attention, whether through notifications, social media, or simply the urge to check their devices.

Diving into Academic Research

This week, we also turned to academic research to deepen our understanding of why smartphones are so effective at capturing attention. While we're still in the early stages of this investigation, we're exploring studies on attention, habit formation, and the psychological triggers behind smartphone usage. The goal is to uncover the root causes of distraction and use this knowledge to inform our solution.

How Might We…?

Finally, we defined our problem using the "How Might We" (HMW) technique we learned. Here's our finalized problem statement:

"How might we help teenagers build self-regulation skills to manage smartphone distractions during study time?"

This framing helps us focus on empowering teens with sustainable habits rather than relying on quick fixes.

Market Research: Existing Solutions

We also explored existing solutions to understand the current landscape. Non-technological approaches like placing the phone face-down or locking it away temporarily are helpful but don't address the root issue. Similarly, technological solutions like phone lockboxes or apps that limit usage provide temporary relief but don't teach teenagers how to independently manage their distractions. This gap in the market solidified our goal: to create a solution that fosters long-term behavioral change and helps teenagers develop resilience against distractions.

Eating pizza while working on our presentaion! YAM 😋

Team Bonding and Presentation Prep

To cap off the week, we met at the home of one of our team members, Alin. It was our first time working together outside the campus, and it was a refreshing change of pace. We finalized our presentation and practiced delivering it to for next week's class. The team bonding and collaborative spirit made the experience even more enjoyable.

Wish us luck as we present our findings and ideas to the class! Stay tuned for updates next week. 😊