Nemo
Nemo is an innovative note-taking assistant for iPhone users, designed to elevate productivity by harnessing the power of ambient artificial intelligence. By analyzing and interpreting ideas through advanced algorithms and learned patterns, Nemo not only organizes your thoughts but also offers actionable follow-ups, ensuring seamless and efficient task management.
Problem Space - AI improvement for the iphone note taking application
Problem Statement
How might we help individuals create and achieve actionable objectives through distilling written or spoken thoughts, by using integrated artificial intelligence in the Iphone notes applications?
Problem Background
Everyday smartphone users are provided with an avenue to store information by way of notes, hosted on native applications within those same smartphones. These notes often serve as a one and done activity, leading to individuals creating the same types of notes over and over again taking up phone storage space.
Think of how many times you have made the same grocery list with the same ingredients from the last time, but immediately forget that note as soon as your grocery shopping is done; or how you get sidetracked by purchasing something you haven’t made a note of because you’re lost in the moment. Think of how many ideas have been documented as a starting point for stories and books yet unwritten or songs yet to be recorded, locked away, never to be revisited. While our notes serve an important purpose by sometimes being a bearer of thoughts, they can also become a junkyard of ‘what if’s’ and long forgotten dreams.
As an avid ‘procrastinator’ and a diagnosed neurodivergent individual, I often struggle with revisiting ideas or thoughts and even performing everyday tasks in a timely manner, because my internal system is incapable of correctly motivating itself to complete time-driven or deadline-based activities . As soon as I create a note, a follow up action needs to be performed such as setting a deadline, or creating a calendar activity to keep me on track. My aversion to too many steps in the process already means procrastination is not too far away. Due to the overwhelming pace at which things are processed in my internal system, my default is to procrastinate long enough that the note becomes ineffective, without regard for consequence.
Research Insights
A survey was conducted with seven participants aged 25-34, residing in Canada (6) and the USA (1). The survey revealed the following insights:
- Most smartphone users utilize their phone’s note-taking application weekly.
- While users were generally satisfied with their note-taking apps, they had usability concerns.
- Most participants were open to AI-driven recommendations and personalized suggestions, provided data privacy and security were maintained.
- 6 out of 7 participants identified automatic summarization of notes as the most valuable AI-powered feature.
- Additional desired features included improved speech-to-text accuracy, smart organization, and advanced search capabilities.
- Some users expressed interest in automatic reminders, highlights, and smart organization to address current inefficiencies.
- Privacy concerns varied, with openness to AI analysis dependent on an individual's familiarity with data privacy and security.
Given more time, further research would have included user interviews and expanded demographics to explore the needs of older users and those requiring assistance with task management.
The Solution
The survey provided valuable insights into the inefficiencies of current smartphone note-taking apps. The findings suggest that AI-powered improvements—such as automatic summarization, voice-to-text enhancement, smart organization, and advanced search—can greatly enhance the user experience while maintaining privacy and security. Nemo aims to bridge these gaps by integrating intelligent organization features with minimal disruption to everyday life.
User Flows
Future Steps
These changes could be integrated seamlessly into the native Iphone application, however, I believe Beta testing and some additional research could potentially reveal opportunities for improvements or open the door to creating a standalone application.
Images - screenshots, marketing assets, etc.
Learnings
- This experience has deepened my understanding of the impact that quantitative data analysis and metric measurement have on shaping a final product.
- Leveraging AI tools has significantly streamlined product management, transforming what was once a complex process into a more efficient and insightful workflow.
Co.Lab has been instrumental in expanding my product management knowledge, offering access to valuable resources I might not have discovered or fully utilized on my own. I’m grateful to the instructors and coordinators for delivering lectures that are both practical and easy to apply. I have learnt the basics of prompt engineering and how to use this new found knowledge while working with AI tools. I can now visualize ideas that once lay dormant.
Link to static prototype.
Link to Nemo Pitch
Learnings
Product Manager Learnings:
Dorcas Dariya
Designer Learnings:
Designer Learnings:
Jo Sturdivant
- Adapting to an Established Team: Joining the team in week 6 of 8 was challenging, as I had to quickly adapt to existing workflows, dynamics, and goals. This mirrors real-world situations where you often integrate into teams mid-project, and flexibility is essential.
- Work-Blocking for Efficiency: With only two weeks to complete the project, I learned the importance of a structured work-blocking system. This approach allowed me to manage my time effectively and meet deadlines under pressure.
- Making Data-Driven Design Decisions: Unlike my past projects, I had to rely on research conducted by others. This was a valuable experience in using pre-existing data to guide design decisions, helping me focus on the core insights without starting from scratch.
Developer Learnings:
Developer Learnings:
Vanady Beard
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As the back-end developer, I learned how important it is to create efficient and reliable systems that support the entire application. This experience also taught me the importance of optimising the database and ensuring the backend is scalable and easy to maintain.
Developer Learnings:
Stephen Asiedu
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As a back-end developer, I've come to understand the importance of being familiar with various database systems and modules. This knowledge enables me to build diverse applications and maintain versatility in my work. I've also learned that the responsibility for making the right choices rests on my shoulders, guided by my best judgement.
Developer Learnings:
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Developer Learnings:
Maurquise Williams
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- Process of Creating an MVP: Developing a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) taught me how to focus on delivering core functionalities balancing between essential features and avoiding scope creep.
- Collaboration in a Real-World Tech Setting: This experience taught me how to collaborate efficiently in a fast-paced tech environment, keeping the team aligned and productive, even while working remotely across time zones.
- Sharpening Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving Skills: This experience honed my ability to think critically and solve problems efficiently. By tackling challenges and finding quick solutions, I sharpened my decision-making and troubleshooting skills in a dynamic, real-world setting.
Developer Learnings:
Jeremiah Williams
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All in all this experience was very awesome I learned that in coding with others being transparent is key
Developers Learnings:
Justin Farley
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I learned how important communication is when working with a team. Communication provides understanding, advice, ideas, and much more. While working with the product team, I’ve found that communication keeps everything flowing smoothly. Working with a team also showed me that every member brings something different to the table and we all have to work together in order to align and meet our end goal.