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The library catalog
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Viewing a specific library
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Productivity page
Inspiration
As university students ourselves, we understand well that a common struggle shared by all fellow students is finding a good study spot to be productive. We often experience the frustration of going from one library to another and only to end up with no seat at all, leaving us tired, not in the mood to study anymore and wasting precious time. That’s why we wanted a system to show seat availability in the study space we choose, together with the exact details of where the seat is located. As students, we already have enough on our plate, so we should be stressing about our assignments, not about finding a spot. We also wanted to make productivity feel rewarding. Inspired by the viral TikTok streaks, we designed a study streak feature to motivate students to stay consistent. We wished for a way to track what we actually achieved during each study session and that is why we have a Pomodoro timer in our system so that in each session, we can see not just the time spent, but also the work accomplished.
What it does
The app that we made called OptiMate that helps students to find study spaces in the university they attend. Our app shows students real-time seat availability in study spots so they know where to study before they even leave to go there. Students can filter by seat type, noise level, charging access and floor location. The app also lets users check in when they arrive, so seat data stays accurate. On top of that, OptiMate includes a Pomodoro timer with study streaks to keep students motivated, and a To-Do List to help organise tasks all in one app.
How we built it
We start off with writing down main components that we have to develop on one spreadsheet. Then we sketch wireframes to initialize what the product interface should look like. We created a high-fidelity prototype on figma to finalise the overall design interface. Next, we set up our coding environment using GitHub to collaborate efficiently as a team. We built core functions including seat availability information, static search bar, pomodoro timer, filter and to-do list.
Challenges we ran into
One of the biggest challenges that we faced was setting up GitHub to work collaboratively. We had complications with terminal and syncing our branches properly, which slowed us down at the start. But through trial and error, we learned how to solve merge conflicts, push changes to the right branches, and coordinate our workflow as a team.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
A finished high-fidelity prototype, implementing Pomodoro Timer, getting the system interface in coding done, getting GitHub working.
What we learned
Through this project, we learned how to collaborate effectively as a team using different collaborative softwares. We also learned the importance of designing for students' real needs such as motivation and time management, not just functionality. From this hackathon project, we learned how to work under pressure, adapt to new challenges and make the most out of the limited time.
What's next for NVZ
In the future, we plan to refine the OptiMate prototype and test it with real students to improve the overall user experience. We also want to add more engaging features, such as leaderboards for streaks, to make studying more fun and motivating. Then, Our goal is to integrate with the university’s library system so seat data can be fully automated and accurate in real time. Looking further ahead, we hope to expand OptiMate across multiple universities, turning it into a platform that not only helps students find seats, but also builds more consistent and organised study habits worldwide.
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