WYD?

A Chrome extension that keeps you focused by detecting distractions and bringing you back on track with quick, AI-generated quizzes based on your study topic.

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Inspiration

As students, we often found ourselves getting sidetracked while studying online, one tab for research turns into ten tabs of distractions. We wanted to create a tool that not only keeps users accountable but also helps reinforce learning in real-time. That's how WYD (short for "What You Doin'?") was born, a playful but powerful Chrome extension that makes focus fun.

What it does

WYD monitors your browsing activity and detects when you're off-topic. When a distraction is detected, it prompts you with a quick AI-generated quiz related to your chosen study topic. If you continue to stray, it redirects you back to your work. WYD transforms passive screen time into active learning time.

How we built it

We built WYD as a Chrome extension using:

  • Manifest V3 for the extension structure
  • React for the popup UI
  • JavaScript for content and background scripts
  • OpenAI API to generate topic-based quizzes and classification to detect topic drift

The extension runs lightweight analysis in the background, cross-checking page content with the user's selected topic.

Challenges we ran into

  • Detecting distractions without over-blocking was a challenge — we had to find a balance between false positives and real off-task behavior.
  • Integrating AI quiz generation in real-time while minimizing latency.
  • Managing Chrome extension permissions and storage limitations.
  • Ensuring the UI was simple enough not to become another distraction.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Created a fully functional Chrome extension from scratch in a short time.
  • Successfully integrated AI-powered quiz generation to reinforce learning.
  • Designed a seamless user experience that encourages focus without being annoying.
  • Developed a simple topic detection system that works across a variety of subjects.

What we learned

  • How Chrome extensions work under the hood, including background/content scripts and permissions.
  • Integrating AI models like GPT for real-time content generation.
  • Building clean and responsive UIs with React for browser extensions.
  • The importance of balancing user experience with behavioral nudging.

What's next for WYD?

  • Add customizable study goals and progress tracking.
  • Train a lightweight local model for faster distraction detection.
  • Support for group study mode with shared quizzes.
  • Mobile version for Android/iOS browsers.
  • A leaderboard to gamify productivity and studying.

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