Cortex

A simple but effective productivity solution

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Building Cortex: Our Journey to Beating Procrastination

Inspiration

Our biggest struggle in college? Procrastination. We found ourselves constantly distracted by social media, YouTube, and endless scrolling. We wanted a solution that didn’t just block distractions but actually motivated us to stay on track. That’s how Cortex, our productivity-focused Chrome extension, came to life.

What It Does

Cortex is designed to gently persuade users to focus while limiting distractions. Here’s what it offers:

  • Website Blocking with Encouragement – Instead of a harsh block, we display motivating messages to steer users back to work.
  • Built-in Study Music – A curated selection of focus-enhancing sounds and instrumental music.
  • Pomodoro Timer – Implements the Pomodoro Technique to help users work in structured intervals.

How We Built It

We used a combination of:

  • JavaScript – For logic and Chrome extension API integration.
  • HTML & CSS – To create a clean and intuitive UI.
  • Chrome Extension API – For managing permissions, storing preferences, and injecting scripts dynamically.

Challenges We Ran Into

  1. Finding the right balance between restriction and encouragement – Too strict, and users get frustrated; too lenient, and it’s ineffective.
  2. Navigating Chrome extension permissions – Some APIs required additional permissions, which we had to handle carefully.
  3. Designing a simple yet effective UI – We wanted a distraction-free, intuitive interface that enhanced productivity.

Accomplishments That We're Proud Of

  • Successfully building a functional and user-friendly productivity extension.
  • Crafting an engaging experience that persuades rather than punishes.
  • Implementing a seamless Pomodoro workflow that helps users stay on track.
  • Creating a customizable study music feature that enhances focus.

What We Learned

  • User psychology matters – A softer, more encouraging approach is more effective than hard restrictions.
  • Chrome Extension API limitations – We learned how to work within its constraints while still delivering a great user experience.
  • The power of time management – Implementing the Pomodoro Technique reinforced its effectiveness for productivity.

What's Next for Cortex

We’re excited about the future of Cortex! Here’s what we plan to add:

  • Customizable website blocking – Letting users tailor their focus experience.
  • More study music options – Expanding our library with different genres and ambient sounds.
  • Progress tracking – A dashboard to show productivity stats over time.
  • AI-powered reminders – Smart nudges based on usage patterns to optimize focus.

Our journey in building Cortex has been both challenging and rewarding. We hope it helps others fight procrastination and stay focused on what truly matters! 🚀

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