A brand new app known as Currently launched on the App Retailer a couple of weeks in the past, focusing on folks with ADHD to assist them arrive on time and rewarding them for doing so.
The service is designed to assist customers handle their journey plans by notifying them when it’s time to depart for a visit, sending reminders half-hour, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes earlier than departure. It additionally options Stay Actions on iPhone and Apple Watch that show a countdown to depart.
To encourage well timed departures, Currently employs some extent reward system with 4 issue ranges.
The best degree, “Goldfish,” awards customers 3 factors for being early, 2 factors for being on time, and 0 for being late, whereas the opposite ranges — “Espresso,” “Grown Up,” and “Yoda” — grow to be progressively much less forgiving. Yoda, as an example, deducts 2 factors for being late.
As customers accumulate factors, they degree up and unlock numerous digital characters throughout the app that function achievement badges. Whereas the reward could seem easy, it might present customers with a way of progress and accomplishment.
Currently was created by indie developer Erik MacInnis to deal with challenges confronted by people with ADHD, notably associated to time administration.
“I’ve all the time been the ‘late one’ in my pal group,” MacInnis advised TechCrunch. “For many people, our hardest challenges to leaving on time are time blindness and poor time estimation. Currently addresses each of those issues by holding the consumer continuously conscious of when to depart, and it’s gamified, so that you get factors once you arrive on time, which truthfully feels good.”
Whereas different related apps exist — comparable to an Android app known as Time to Depart — MacInnis believes they’re outdated. ADHD apps like Structured and TickTick are primarily for process administration and don’t particularly tackle time blindness for commuting.
Throughout our testing, we discovered Currently to be useful, however we want it might present time estimations for commuters in giant cities who use public transportation or biking. At present, the app solely gives choices for driving or strolling.
Regardless of this small limitation, we imagine the app could be profitable amongst its goal demographic.
People with ADHD steadily really feel unmotivated, and specialists typically counsel using a reward system to assist with self-discipline. One other gamified app, Finch, has gained consideration for its level system. The self-care app encourages customers to finish every day chores at house or have interaction in different wholesome habits by rewarding them with factors that can be utilized to customise their digital pet.
MacInnis revealed future plans for Currently, which embrace a social function that mechanically notifies buddies when customers depart, when they’re 5 minutes away, and once they arrive. An Android model can be a part of the long-term roadmap.
Currently is on the market free of charge, however there’s additionally a premium subscription ($3 per thirty days or $10 per yr) that gives options like customizing issue ranges and scheduling recurring journeys.
