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Business Problem Statement
Business Problem Statement
Currently, 80-95% of students procrastinate in not only the U.S, but also worldwide, leading to higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and fatigue among students.
To find needed solutions, each member broke off in search of solutions and strategies that would benefit users' time management and generally help decrease procrastination. After writing down prior solutions of choice, they would review potential solutions and address any problems that could have been seen such as incorrect APA format or a lackluster description. This process was repeated until every prior solution was concluded and a clear idea of what the end project should incorporate. This method was proven to be so effective that the process was applied to further research segment/brainstorm sessions from then on.
Patents
Patents
Date: December 6th, 2021
The following are patents that Profectly researched applying to the problem statement. Overall, they tackle the problem in a variety of different ways, from medicine to watches, many of which inspired thoughtful brainstorming processes further fostering and developing new ideas.
#1: Procrastinator's Watch
US6411570B1
Date of Patent: 2002-06-25
The idea behind the patent is that it is a basic watch but the user can use its timer functionality to decrease procrastination. This timer releases an audible sound to remind the user and increase time management. It can also be worn anywhere to increase the chances of being heard by the user.
The patent attempts to solve the problem of increasing time management by setting timers and reminding the user of when to do specific things that they assigned. For the technology at this time, the watch is likely to be decently effective however, it is because of these technological hindrances that it could be easily ignored and can’t do many functions automatically.
#2: Compositions and methods for treating psychiatric disorders
US10028971B2
Date of Patent: 2008-08-06
The patent is focused on methods of tackling psychiatric disorders and problems through the use of antiepileptic agents and psychostimulants. The benefits of this would be that, if it works, could help with various mentally degrading disorders. Although it strays from focusing on procrastination, the patent highlights that mild doses of various antiepileptic medications could have the potential to help with decreasing procrastination.
The patent helps attempt to solve various similar problems relating to mental disorders through a different tactic in medication. This could be good if effective but has unknown side effects that could be problematic. This patent relates to the research because it has the potential to help with decreasing procrastination and it provides a new perspective of potentially helping those with procrastination through medical means.
#3: System and method for threat monitoring, detection, and response
EP3619695B
Date of Patent: 2018-07-24
This patent is focused on methods of tackling psychiatric disorders and problems through the use of antiepileptic agents and psychostimulants. The benefits of this would be that, if it works, could help with various mentally degrading disorders. Although it strays from focusing on procrastination, the patent highlights that mild doses of various antiepileptic medications could have the potential to help with decreasing procrastination.
The patent helps attempt to solve various similar problems relating to mental disorders through a different tactic in medication. This could be good if effective but has unknown side effects that could be problematic. This patent relates to the research because it has the potential to help with decreasing procrastination and it provides a new perspective of potentially helping those with procrastination through medical means.
#4: Email Thread Procrastination method
US20150127749A1
Date of Patent: 2015-05-07
This code would identify emails that would aid procrastination and save them to be given to the user during their procrastination time to increase productivity.
The code increases efficiency during procrastination periods but doesn’t aid in helping the user fight procrastination. This gives me the idea to schedule procrastination time with stuff the user may like.
#5: Method and Device for reminding based on Alarm Clock
US9916750B2
Date of Patent: 2018-03-13
This device is an alarm that rings once before the event chosen by the user, and one when it begins to remind the user of the event.
This method is a great way to remind someone when something is happening, but it doesn’t label what the event is for the user.
#6: Triggering user queries based on sensor inputs
US9173567B2
Date of Patent: 2015-11-03
This patent mainly focuses on strategies and techniques to identify and address stress in people and help them with that. With this, although it isn’t the main focus, these strategies can be used to prevent procrastination by identifying the cause of it, which is stress, along with various other things like anxiety, depression, etc. It identifies stress levels via various sensors which are not explicitly identified.
This patent attempts to solve the problem of effectively identifying and tackling the problem of stress amongst people. It is very in-depth in terms of strategies and methods but it doesn’t define the types of sensors required, which could be a pro as it gives them options. This is related to procrastination because stress can cause it and therefore it helps with understanding that relationship.
#7: Digital Habit-Making and coaching ecosystem
US20190027052A1
Date of Patent: 2019-01-24
This patent mainly focuses on strategies and techniques to identify and address stress in people and help them with that. With this, although it isn’t the main focus, these strategies can be used to prevent procrastination by identifying the cause of it, which is stress, along with various other things like anxiety, depression, etc. It identifies stress levels via various sensors which are not explicitly identified.
This patent attempts to solve the problem of effectively identifying and tackling the problem of stress amongst people. It is very in-depth in terms of strategies and methods but it doesn’t define the types of sensors required, which could be a pro as it gives them options. This is related to procrastination because stress can cause it and therefore it helps with understanding that relationship.
#8: Digital Habit-Making and coaching ecosystem
US20190027052A1
Date of Patent: 2019-01-24
The method would see what the current habits of the user are and would build a schedule around that.
This allows the user to make a good schedule out of their current schedule and habits, but it doesn’t help the user get better habits or be more efficient with their day.
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#9: Self-hypnosis instrument
CN204502026U
Date of Patent: 2015-07-29
A device for one to self-hypnosis themselves to force themselves to finish their goal.
The device seems to be unreliable from what I can see, but if it works it can solve procrastination. Self-hypnosis may be beneficial if it can be activated with an app up or if the app can guide someone to use self-hypnosis.
(No Image available)
#10: Determination of baseline situations and ability to cope with stress
KR102317685B1
Date of Patent: 2015-07-29
This patent is a method for analyzing someone's health through biological measures to identify a baseline for stress. With this, this method would be able to calculate the said person’s ability to cope with stress. Also could calculate the health of someone using a compatible product.
The patent helps attempt to solve the similar problem of stress help. Stress is caused and can cause procrastination and is a much larger factor in mental health than procrastination. This patent shows a potential way to identify stress and stress tolerance. This could be used in the future to show potential links to procrastination and this data could be used to help the user for the better.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The patent research allowed members to get more information and insight on the ideas behind the products and services on the market. Some were not as useful as others but still proved to contribute new possibilities and solutions through the thought process.
Commercial Products
Commercial Products
Date: December 6th, 2021
Profectly's commercial products research spanned from websites and apps to self-hypnosis. These current solutions to the problem or aspect of the problem have become extremely valuable to the market research and the development of future solutions.
#1: Rocket 135
Price: Free (In-App Purchases)
Summary: This site summarizes 10 apps that are effective at beating procrastination. Has Rocket 135 information such as its priced at 25$ annually and how it allows people to plan their schedule.
Pros: Effective planning schedule, synchronizes with other users and devices. Assigned multiple levels of importance. Low cost.
Cons: Seemingly little reminder outside of the app to do tasks. Forces you to do 1 important project, 3 medium important, and one low importance project every day.
Critique: This app attempts to solve procrastination by assigning a lot of work to a(n) person(s) every day as it synchronizes across devices. It’s good at setting a schedule and assigning work, but it assigns seemingly random tasks based on their importance. I think it will be good to have solutions that use multiple devices like Rocket 135.
#2: ClickUp
Price: Free (Business licenses available)
Summary: ClickUp is an organizational-oriented website/app designed to help teams and individuals at work efficiently and effectively using various tools to organize workflow and time management keeping everyone on track.
Pros: Helps increase productivity by creating a smoother, efficient, and organized workflow amongst a team or just an individual. Additionally, it has various functionalities and a variety of tools to promote effective working and decrease the likelihood of procrastination.
Great for work environments with a team
Fosters highly organized workflow that can be easily accessible.
Cons: Because it is so focused on the work environment and work efficiency, it is not effective for students or those who aren’t working in a generic environment.
Poor for students or those who aren’t working in a typical environment
Critique: This solution attempts to solve the procrastination problem by organizing work and keeping users up to date on when things are due, decreasing the chances of procrastinating. ClickUp also combines tools from various other companies to increase efficiency and workflow. This solution highlights how it is important to take tools from similar companies and compile them into a compatible format that allows for everything to be in one place.
#3: Forest
Price: $1.99 (IOS), Free (Android)
Summary: An app that reinforces the user's will to work by setting goals to leave the user's phone alone for set amounts of time. As an added bonus to reinforce good behavior, whenever a goal is reached the Forest company will plant one tree.
Pros: Helps users stay on task by providing a set amount of time to work and rewards users for completing their work in this timely manner.
Helps with time management
Effectively rewards users for using their time wisely
Cons: Doesn’t provide many tools beyond its set purpose and, therefore, only helps with one aspect of procrastination forcing the requirement of other apps.
Only provides one tool to help with procrastination
Critique: This solution attempts to solve the problem of time management (which is an aspect that helps prevent procrastination) by encouraging the user to use their time wisely through rewards. This is a massive pro for this app as they make their tool very effective, however, it only tackles one part of the procrastination problem so various apps are required in addition to this.
#4: Limit
Price: Free
Summary: The source summarizes 8 website blockers to help people study by removing potential distractions or temptations.
Pros: Blocks apps when you shouldn't use them.
Cons: The person who puts in the blocks can also unblock most of them at any time.
Critique: The blockers provide a great way to get rid of distractions and help one focus. It’s not quite effective at getting the owner of the blocks to block themselves though, but overall I would love to add a way to block the user from entering apps they shouldn’t during work time or send a reminder whenever the app is opened that they should work.
#5: 15 Tips on how to get rid of Distractions at work
Price: Free
Summary: 15 ways to get rid of distractions such as planning before you begin your day, leaving distractions away from yourself, and getting plenty of sleep so you don’t feel tired.
Pros: Multiple effective ways to help one focus on work.
Cons: It’s hard to remember to do all these things if you're not in the habit or simply forget.
Critique: This is a good way to get rid of distractions for the diligent, but is hard for a lazy/forgetful person to do all these. I would like to incorporate these ideas into tips/tricks the product can give to users.
#6: Trello
Price: Free
Summary: Trello is a work tool designed to help users plan out their routine to better correspond to each other and help keep the project on track.
Pros: Free, Easily accessible, easy to use.
Cons: Easy to forget about work without reminders, easy to forget to move stuff from backlog to todo.
Critique: Trello does a good job at keeping effective and diligent workers and helps keep a good pace at a project, however, it has a hard time at keeping forgetful/lazy workers engaged.
#7: Top 10 ways to Avoid Procrastination
Price: Free
Summary: This source summarizes 10 ways to help with procrastination such as telling others, doing the hard stuff first, and creating a timeline.
Pros: Lists multiple effective ways to combat procrastination.
Cons: Tells people how to work better instead of helping people work better.
Critique: This source lists multiple effective ways to combat procrastination and if done, will help the user combat procrastination. But, a user who can take enough of the initiative to do all these tasks likely wouldn't have a problem with work.
#8: Self-hypnosis
Price: Free but offers classes for a range of prices.
Summary: This source helps you get over procrastination with more conventional methods such as getting over your fear of the work itself and claims that hypnosis and classes that teach it can help with procrastination.
Pros: Trains the mind by identifying why one is procrastinating and avoiding these reasons
Cons: Hypnosis itself is a heavily debated concept in science and is unlikely to exist to the extent being shown.
Critique: This source lists multiple effective ways to combat procrastination and if done, will help the user combat procrastination. But, a user who can take enough of the initiative to do all these tasks likely wouldn't have a problem with work.
Conclusion
Conclusion
The commercial product research allowed the team to gain more insightful knowledge on competitor products/services. With this, it helped with better understanding the market and the places in the market the team can innovate.
Similar Solutions Matrix
Similar Solutions Matrix
Date: December 15, 2021
This matrix takes the information from the product and patent research and applies to a concise and clear grading platform. The grades are based on the various factors the solution excels at or doesn't and provides a better understanding of the most effective competitors in the market.
Analysis
Analysis
The top features identified in the matrix are trustworthiness and customer approval. This is because most businesses and products in the industry currently are effective in gaining the trust and approval of customers. One problem that many products/services lack is a reward system to keep the user engaged in helping themselves, through positive reinforcement.
The two top solutions (sharing the same score) are ClickUp and Trello. However, as mentioned above, their biggest weakness is the lack of a reward system to positively reinforce the user to keep on their schedule/task and not stray. Therefore, this presents the opportunity to improve on their system of work management and provide a reward system that rewards the user when they follow their goals or tasks.
All of the features analyzed in the matrix need to be part of the solution (ex. Ease of use, customer approval, effectiveness), especially the reward system to keep the user engaged. The solution will need to focus on various aspects of procrastination such as habits, goals, time management, stress relief, etc. And if all these things are done correctly, this solution will be quite successful
How Each Source Is Graded
How Each Source Is Graded
Ease of Use: How easy it is for a user to navigate without previous knowledge of the website.
Various Tools/Strategies: Rated on how many methods the website has for dealing with procrastination.
Effectiveness: How effective the website is at helping the user fight procrastination.
Innovative: How unique the website's methods are at eliminating procrastination.
Synchronization across platforms: Does it optimally sync between website and app (if it has one)?
Compatibility w/ other apps/websites: Rated on how many websites (such as Google or Yahoo,) the website is compatible with.
Engagement: Dependent on if the user is encouraged/engaged to not procrastinate.
Reinforcement effectiveness: Rated on the effectiveness of the reinforcement given by the website.
Trustworthiness: How much the average user would trust the information given.
Customer Approval: How much customers value the website/app.
Value compared to price: How useful the website is at combating procrastination compared to its price.
Easy to ignore: How easy it is to ignore the website's reinforcement/reminders.
Time Management: How effective/helpful the website is at making good schedules for the user.
Habit Building: How helpful the website is at building positive habits.
Work Organization: How effective the website is at organizing/helping the user organize their work.
Rewards: How rewarding it feels to finish a task with this website.
Element B Conclusion
Element B Conclusion
Overall, Element consisted of various research topics including patent and product research to market and industry research. This research was crucial to providing valuable information about competing products and services and their strategies to combat the same and similar problems in the market. This has helped with creating ideas of what an effective product will look like and the best way to do that in alignment with Profectly's business values.
References
References
Mildred, S. (2001). Procrastinator’s Watch (U.S Patent No. US6411570B1). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/US6411570?oq=procrastination
Philip. B. (2015). Compositions and methods for treating psychiatric disorders (US Patent No. US10028971B2). U.S Patent and Trademark Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/US10028971B2/en?q=procrastination&oq=procrastination&page=4
Doron, K. Ron, A. (2017). System and method for threat monitoring, detection, and response (Europe Patent No. EP3619695B1). European Patent Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/EP3619695B1/en?q=procrastination&oq=procrastination&page=4
Ornelas, R. (2021, October 21). 10 Most Effective Apps to Help You Beat Procrastination. Lifehack. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.lifehack.org/879171/stop-procrastinating-app
ClickUp. (n.d.). ClickUp | One app to replace them all. Retrieved November 29, 2021, from https://clickup.com/
Seekrtech. (n.d.). Forest. Forest - Stay focused, be present. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.forestapp.cc/
Dempsey, A. (2018, August 8). 8 Website Blockers For Studying, Productivity, & Focus. Freedom. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://freedom.to/blog/8-website-blockers-for-studying-productivity-focus/
15 Tips on How To Eliminate Distractions at Work. (2021, May 20). Indeed. Retrieved December 6, 2021, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/eliminate-distractions
Google LLC. (2015, 05 07). Email thread procrastinating method. Google Patents. Retrieved 12 2, 21, from https://patents.google.com/patent/US20150127749A1/en?q=procrastination&oq=procrastination
Xiaomi Inc. (2018, 3 13). Method and device for reminding based on alarm clock. Google Patents. Retrieved 1 3, 2021, from https://patents.google.com/patent/US9916750B2/en?q=alarm+clock&oq=alarm+clock&dups=language\
Jawahar, JD. Loren, M. Albert H. M. Reinhardt. (2011). Triggering user queries based on sensor inputs (US Patent No. US9173567B2). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/US9173567B2/en?q=procrastination&oq=procrastination&page=4
Philip. B. (2015). Compositions and methods for treating psychiatric disorders (US Patent No. US10028971B2). U.S Patent and Trademark Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/US10028971B2/en?q=procrastination&oq=procrastination&page=4
Margaret, A. M. (2017). Digital Habit-Making and Coaching Ecosystem (US Patent No. US20190027052A1). US Patent and Trademark Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/US20190027052A1/en?q=procrastination&oq=procrastination
行 罗. (2017, 04 14). Path planning method based on use habit of user. Google Patents. Retrieved 12 5, 2021, from https://patents.google.com/patent/CN104165634B/en?q=Habit&oq=Habit
兆, 丁. 瑞., & Linyi University. (2015, 07 29). A kind of self-hypnosis instrument. Google Patents. Retrieved 12 6, 2021, from https://patents.google.com/patent/CN204502026U/en?q=self+hypnosis&oq=self+hypnosis
자와할 제인제임스 영코디 워샘사지드 사디프라나브 미스트리 (2015). Determination of baseline situations and ability to cope with stress (KR Patent No. KR102317685B1). South Korea Patent and Trademark Office. https://patents.google.com/patent/US10028971B2/en?q=procrastination&oq=procrastination&page=4
Atlassian. (n.d.). Trello. 12/1/21 https://trello.com/jakegonzalez10/boards
Collins, R. (2017, March 24). Top 10 Ways to Avoid Procrastination. CollegeXpress. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/majors-and-academics/blog/top-10-ways-avoid-procrastination/
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