PURRFIT

‍Background

Discord is a widely-used communication platform for gamers, providing free voice and text chat across desktop, mobile, and web. Users can create or join servers tailored to specific games or interests, facilitating real-time conversations and file sharing. A Discord bot is a software on the server that automates tasks and provides information. They can:

• Send messages, either on command or at set times
• Engage users with games like trivia
• Automate routine activities, from welcoming newcomers to event reminders

Problem Space

Problem Background 

We're focusing on the gaming community, which includes both casual and hardcore gamers. There's growing concern over the physical health effects of long gaming sessions, especially with the rise in gaming's popularity and associated health issues. Our findings show:

• About 60% gamers play games daily or several times a week, with sessions lasting over 2 hours
• Players are 46% more concerned about their physical than mental health
• The main concerns include poor posture, visual and physical discomfort
• Major barriers include time constraints, low awareness, and lack of motivation

Given the significant number of gamers not monitoring their health and interest in relevant products, there's a clear need for solutions like Purrfit. This tool would integrate into the gaming experience, promoting healthy habits and raising awareness.

Product Statement

How might we motivate gamers to stay active while gaming, fostering a healthy gaming lifestyle?

Target Users

Our target audience is gamers using Discord to chat across platforms. Initially, our MVP is for users in servers with our bot integrated. As we grow, we plan to launch our own gaming server.

Solution Space

Proposed Solution 

We're launching Purrfit, a Discord bot for health-conscious gamers. It blends reminders, activity tracking, and motivation to balance gaming and well-being seamlessly. Unlike competitors such as YUR Rank, we seamlessly track playtime, educate on gaming's physical health impacts, and guide players through diverse exercises.

Main Features (Minimum Viable Product)

• Goal Setting: Purrfit lets users set and personalize health goals, such as posture, hydration, or taking eye breaks.
• Customizable Frequency: Adjust the frequency of health reminders based on personal preferences.
• Activity Reminders: Via a Discord bot, Purrfit sends health tips, short exercise prompts, and benefits of staying active.
• Progress Tracking: Users can view their exercise data through visual graphs, track achievements, and earn badges based on their workout dedication.
• Online Platform: Beyond Discord, Purrfit offers a website with a dashboard for deeper engagement and bot interaction.

Stretch Goals (Next Phase)

• Reward System: Earn points by achieving goals and engaging with the bot. A gamified way to promote healthier habits.
• Customizable Dashboard: Display personal preferences and data with customizable widgets for an enhanced user experience.
• Private Server: Encourage community interaction and support through direct communication.
• AI-Communication: Personalized interactions through AI, including chatbots for queries and tips, and tailored game activity recommendations.

Purrfit provides a complete solution for a balanced gaming lifestyle, addressing the importance of physical health in the gaming community.

Product Design

Lo-fidelity

Hi-fidelity

Product Implementation

Hosted Platform

• Frontend: Vercel
• Backend: Render
• Bot: TBD

Tech Stack Used 

• Database: MongoDB
• Backend: Express
• Frontend: React
• Bot: Discord.js
• Package Manager: Node.js

Current Design - Database

Technical Challenges

What was the hardest part of development?

• Frontend development faced a challenge when working with graphs, a new task for the team.
• The discovery of Chart.js, a user-friendly library, simplified graph creation, dispelling the misconception that it was difficult.

Does your app have any scaling issues?

• The app encounters scalability challenges due to its current hosting setup.
• Backend is hosted on Render, a free platform, while Discord operates in a Sandbox with limitations and unpredictability.
• Deploying on a more reliable platform like Google Cloud could become costly.

How can we address the scaling challenges?

• To overcome these scalability issues, our team is focusing on enhancing the app's value. We plan to introduce new and valuable features to both the bot and the website.
• Our goal is to entice users into subscribing to a premium service, which will help cover expenses and ensure the app runs smoothly.

What are some key takeaways?

• Working as a team has been a valuable learning experience for us.
• We've come to appreciate the importance of meetings in the development process.
• Collaborating with a diverse team, including a product manager, product designer, backend developer, frontend engineer, and mentor, has taught us how to efficiently and swiftly create a high-quality product.

Future Plans

Enhancing Performance: We're enhancing our app speed and ironing out issues for smoother use.

Rewards Ahead: Soon, earn cool rewards like game skins or vouchers just for using our app. Think of it as getting treats for healthy gaming!

Step Tracker: We're integrating a step tracker via the Google Fit API, so you can monitor your activity as you game.

Access Everywhere: View your progress from your computer or phone. We're turning our site into an app and securing a domain.

Premium Perks: Upgrade for a nominal fee to unlock exclusive features.

In essence, we're boosting our app’s speed, offering rewards, tracking your steps, ensuring easy access, and introducing premium perks. And there's more to come!
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