Memory Mallard

Inspiration

We wanted to make neurofeedback fun and easy to understand. It is usually seen in medical or research settings, filled with charts and numbers. We thought, what if your brain had a mascot instead? A duck that shows up when your mind starts to wander felt like a lighthearted and effective way to help people stay focused.

What It Does

Memory Mallard is a Chrome extension that uses real-time EEG data from a Muse headband to tell when your focus drops while reading online. When that happens, a small animated duck walks across the screen and fades away. It acts as a gentle reminder to bring your attention back.

After you finish reading, the extension gives you short questions based on the moments when you lost focus. These questions help you recall what you might have missed and understand the material better.

How We Built It

Memory Mallard is built as a full system that connects brain signals to what happens on your screen.

The Muse EEG headset records brain activity.
A Python backend analyzes the data using signal processing and basic machine learning on brainwave patterns like theta and beta ratios.
A Tauri desktop app made with React and Rust shows the data and connects to the browser through WebSocket.
The Chrome extension displays the animated duck on websites when focus is lost. The duck also talks using Fish Audio’s text-to-speech API in a Donald Duck-style voice. All parts work together in a loop: Muse → Python → Tauri → Extension → Browser. This lets the system read your attention in real time and give instant feedback. --- ## Challenges We Ran Into It was hard to connect the EEG stream to the browser in a stable way. The Muse headset sends data over OSC, which is not made for the web, so we built our own bridge server. The EEG data was also noisy and different for each user, which made it difficult to find good thresholds for focus detection. Chrome’s messaging system also added some complexity since background scripts and content scripts needed to talk to each other in real time. --- ## Accomplishments We’re Proud Of We managed to bring live brainwave data into a Chrome extension, something that is rarely done. We created a focus tool that is based on real science but still feels playful and friendly. We are proud of how we balanced hardware, software, and design under time pressure. Most of all, we built something that can make people smile while helping them focus. --- ## What We Learned We learned how to connect EEG sensors with web apps and process real-time data streams. We also learned more about how focus works from both a technical and human point of view. We realized that feedback does not have to be complex to be helpful. Sometimes a small, funny reminder like a duck can be enough to bring someone back to the task. Humor and good design can make serious technology feel approachable. --- ## What’s Next for Memory Mallard We want to expand Memory Mallard beyond reading and studying. The same idea can help drivers stay alert on long trips. By using EEG to track attention and giving small sound cues when focus drops, we could help prevent fatigue and improve safety. Our long-term goal is to explore how gentle feedback from brain data can make people more aware, focused, and safe in daily life.