6 ms·

I used AI to make an app to help me with my ADHD

38 points by good8675309 3y ago

WheelsAtLarge 3y ago
The real question is: Does it really work? This question comes to you from someone who should be working but is not.
- sarabad2021 3y ago
  It actually does work for me, the audible ticking and vocal time status updates keep me aware of the time and constantly brings my attention back to what I'm supposed to be doing. Of course it's only supplemental and not a silver bullet. It also has alot of customizable options and I think that fact that it's just a single Vue file wrapped in Electron makes it super hackable and easy to adjust to your own preferences too.
Quinzel 3y ago
I’m very amused by this. My question is: how do you plan to ensure that ADHD people can’t just delete, switch off, or just ignore the clock?
- sarabad2021 3y ago
  There's no nuclear option yet but I could see it being added down the road if there's enough interest. It's possible in Electron to prevent the user from closing or minimizing an app. Preventing the user from uninstalling it would be a lot more difficult but I've seen other apps accomplish it.
- adastra22 3y ago
  ADHDer here. The problem I frequently run into is that I don't stop to consider things. I don't, for example, stop to think "should I really be doing this right now?" when I'm hyper-focused on solving some interesting problem. Pomodoro-like techniques are really helpful because it is basically a "stop and evaluate what you're doing" reminder that goes off every 20 minutes. So to answer your question, I think I would be happy for the reminder. But I would have to be careful not to build the habit of dismissing the clock, which would undo the point entirely.
sparedwhistle 3y ago
I've already tried a million such apps.
LaurenSerino 3y ago
I'm amused, but this would drive me absolutely effing bonkers and i wouldn't get anything done. It might be good for certain activities but for deep work and writing I'd lose it. Its the ticking.
spaceman_2020 3y ago
A little side note: I struggled a LOT with procrastination in my 20s. I was convinced I had ADHD because I would waste hours on useless bullshit online instead of working. Then I started working on something I actually enjoyed and realized that my ADHD was just me avoiding work I hated. I can go hours without taking a break now, so much so that it’s become a health problem. I suspect many such self-diagnosed cases of ADHD are just people stuck doing work that’s not for them. (Doesn’t apply to clinically diagnosed ADHD cases of course)
- kyleyeats 3y ago
  This is exactly how people with ADHD describe it.
- mgolawala 3y ago
  That’s classic ADHD. People who have it are able to hyper focus on things they find interesting.
- naasking 3y ago
  > I can go hours without taking a break now, so much so that it’s become a health problem. That's classic ADHD hyperfocus.
- protocolture 3y ago
  Yeah so some clinical diagnosis for ADHD includes comparing school books between Subject kid likes and subject kid doesnt like. your self diagnosis is probably still valid.
- resonious 3y ago
  I have a formal ADHD diagnosis, and I'm the same way (I know, every sibling comment is saying the same thing. just thought I'd chime in with my Credential) At the same time, I do kind of question the utility of the formal diagnosis. Why do I need to go to the doctor to have them tell me "you can only focus on interesting things"? Isn't that everyone to some degree? If we had an education system that was less boring and stupid, "ADHD" wouldn't be an illness.
01100011 3y ago
I tried this by grabbing a sound sample of a meditation bell and playing it every few minutes by calling mpg321 in a bash while loop along with a call to sleep. It... sort of worked, for a bit, and then I just tuned it out. I still like it, sort of like having a grandfather clock, and it does slightly increase my awareness of time, but there's no change in my overall productivity.
runjake 3y ago
I’ve used a ton of stuff but Smart Countdown Timer (h/t guzey) is the only thing that’s stuck with me. And for whatever reason, timers that counted down (as opposed to up) work much better for me. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id1410709951?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id141070...
- profsummergig 3y ago
  I don't use iOS so I can't sample the app. Could you please describe what this app does for you that it helps with ADHD?
  - runjake 3y ago
    It's a Mac app. It may have an iOS version, but I don't use that. What it does is put a small countdown window[1] on my screen that is always on top and counting down. It's easy to start another "pomodoro" with a quick click or key combo. Will it work for everyone? Doubtful. Did it stick/work for me? Yep. I don't think the iOS version would work for me, as it always being in my view seems to be the key for me. 1. Screenshot of the window on the original link at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id1410709951?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id141070...
tabs_or_spaces 3y ago
How was ai used? Feels like you can add ai to any hackernews title to get upvotes. I used ai to generate this comment.
- ss1996 3y ago
  I think OP means they used AI to create/code the app, instead of AI being used in the app.
  - number6 3y ago
    I use AI every day for all kinds of stuff… it might be time to tell if you handcrafted something like in the olden days
- blitzar 3y ago
  Feels like you can add ai to any pitch title to get vc cash
Xiol32 3y ago
Relevant: https://goblin.tools/ https://goblin.tools/
Ntuthuko_hlela 3y ago
This is a cool app.
YetAnotherNick 3y ago
As bad as this is, it seems to be working at least in a 25 minute Pomodoro session. Thanks.

38 points by good8675309 3y ago

WheelsAtLarge 3y ago

The real question is: Does it really work? This question comes to you from someone who should be working but is not.

sarabad2021 3y ago
It actually does work for me, the audible ticking and vocal time status updates keep me aware of the time and constantly brings my attention back to what I'm supposed to be doing. Of course it's only supplemental and not a silver bullet. It also has alot of customizable options and I think that fact that it's just a single Vue file wrapped in Electron makes it super hackable and easy to adjust to your own preferences too.

Quinzel 3y ago

I’m very amused by this. My question is: how do you plan to ensure that ADHD people can’t just delete, switch off, or just ignore the clock?

sarabad2021 3y ago
There's no nuclear option yet but I could see it being added down the road if there's enough interest. It's possible in Electron to prevent the user from closing or minimizing an app. Preventing the user from uninstalling it would be a lot more difficult but I've seen other apps accomplish it.
adastra22 3y ago
ADHDer here. The problem I frequently run into is that I don't stop to consider things. I don't, for example, stop to think "should I really be doing this right now?" when I'm hyper-focused on solving some interesting problem. Pomodoro-like techniques are really helpful because it is basically a "stop and evaluate what you're doing" reminder that goes off every 20 minutes. So to answer your question, I think I would be happy for the reminder. But I would have to be careful not to build the habit of dismissing the clock, which would undo the point entirely.

sparedwhistle 3y ago

I've already tried a million such apps.

LaurenSerino 3y ago

I'm amused, but this would drive me absolutely effing bonkers and i wouldn't get anything done. It might be good for certain activities but for deep work and writing I'd lose it. Its the ticking.

spaceman_2020 3y ago

A little side note: I struggled a LOT with procrastination in my 20s. I was convinced I had ADHD because I would waste hours on useless bullshit online instead of working. Then I started working on something I actually enjoyed and realized that my ADHD was just me avoiding work I hated. I can go hours without taking a break now, so much so that it’s become a health problem. I suspect many such self-diagnosed cases of ADHD are just people stuck doing work that’s not for them. (Doesn’t apply to clinically diagnosed ADHD cases of course)

kyleyeats 3y ago
This is exactly how people with ADHD describe it.
mgolawala 3y ago
That’s classic ADHD. People who have it are able to hyper focus on things they find interesting.
naasking 3y ago
> I can go hours without taking a break now, so much so that it’s become a health problem. That's classic ADHD hyperfocus.
protocolture 3y ago
Yeah so some clinical diagnosis for ADHD includes comparing school books between Subject kid likes and subject kid doesnt like. your self diagnosis is probably still valid.
resonious 3y ago
I have a formal ADHD diagnosis, and I'm the same way (I know, every sibling comment is saying the same thing. just thought I'd chime in with my Credential) At the same time, I do kind of question the utility of the formal diagnosis. Why do I need to go to the doctor to have them tell me "you can only focus on interesting things"? Isn't that everyone to some degree? If we had an education system that was less boring and stupid, "ADHD" wouldn't be an illness.

01100011 3y ago

I tried this by grabbing a sound sample of a meditation bell and playing it every few minutes by calling mpg321 in a bash while loop along with a call to sleep. It... sort of worked, for a bit, and then I just tuned it out. I still like it, sort of like having a grandfather clock, and it does slightly increase my awareness of time, but there's no change in my overall productivity.

runjake 3y ago

I’ve used a ton of stuff but Smart Countdown Timer (h/t guzey) is the only thing that’s stuck with me. And for whatever reason, timers that counted down (as opposed to up) work much better for me. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id1410709951?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id141070...

profsummergig 3y ago
I don't use iOS so I can't sample the app. Could you please describe what this app does for you that it helps with ADHD?
- runjake 3y ago
  It's a Mac app. It may have an iOS version, but I don't use that. What it does is put a small countdown window[1] on my screen that is always on top and counting down. It's easy to start another "pomodoro" with a quick click or key combo. Will it work for everyone? Doubtful. Did it stick/work for me? Yep. I don't think the iOS version would work for me, as it always being in my view seems to be the key for me. 1. Screenshot of the window on the original link at https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id1410709951?mt=12 https://apps.apple.com/us/app/smart-countdown-timer/id141070...

tabs_or_spaces 3y ago

How was ai used? Feels like you can add ai to any hackernews title to get upvotes. I used ai to generate this comment.

ss1996 3y ago
I think OP means they used AI to create/code the app, instead of AI being used in the app.
- number6 3y ago
  I use AI every day for all kinds of stuff… it might be time to tell if you handcrafted something like in the olden days
blitzar 3y ago
Feels like you can add ai to any pitch title to get vc cash

Xiol32 3y ago

Relevant: https://goblin.tools/ https://goblin.tools/

Ntuthuko_hlela 3y ago

This is a cool app.

YetAnotherNick 3y ago

As bad as this is, it seems to be working at least in a 25 minute Pomodoro session. Thanks.