A Pocket-Sized Mood & Memory Assistant for Elderly Individuals and People Facing Anxiety
Elderly individuals with memory lapses and people experiencing anxiety or panic attacks often require immediate assistance and reassurance. Current solutions, such as smartphone apps or wearables, are often too complex, slow, or inconvenient for such users.
Anchor Mind bridges this gap by providing a simple, portable, and always-ready device that operates without the need for smartphones or internet connectivity. It delivers instant emotional support, calming prompts, and reminders through a multi-sensory experience.
Existing solutions for anxiety or memory support face challenges:
- Slow activation during urgent situations
- Complex interfaces are unsuitable for non-tech-savvy users
- Single-mode feedback with limited reassurance
- Bulky or costly designs
These limitations reduce confidence, prolong anxiety episodes, and increase caregiver stress.
Anchor Mind is a pocket-sized mood and memory assistant that provides:
- Instant calming prompts, breathing exercises, and reminders
- Multi-sensory reassurance via visuals, vibration, and light feedback
- Compact, affordable, and user-friendly design
- ✅ Simple interface: Easy-to-press buttons
- ✅ Clear visuals: High-contrast OLED display
- ✅ Multi-sensory feedback: Gentle vibration
- ✅ Pre-programmed support: Calming affirmations & breathing guidance
- ✅ Portable & discreet: Lightweight, fits in a pocket
- Microcontroller: ESP32 (for control & future connectivity)
- Display: 0.96" OLED (SSD1306, I²C)
- Battery: LiPo with TP4056 charging module
- Feedback: Vibration motor
- Enclosure: 3D-printed for comfort & durability
- Firmware: Arduino IDE-based, menu-driven system
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Component Integration
- ESP32 coordinates all peripherals
- OLED for menus, affirmations & breathing steps
- Vibration motor for inhale–exhale guidance
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User Flow
- Power on device → Mood menu displayed
- Device provides text and vibration-based guidance
- Return key allows quick menu navigation
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Testing
- OLED readability under varied lighting
- Optimised LED brightness & vibration intensity
- Reliable mood selection and synchronised feedback
- 🔋 LiPo battery with charging circuit for portability
- 🎙️ Voice-guided relaxation with audio prompts
- 📈 Mood history tracking (local/cloud)
- 📱 Optional Bluetooth connectivity for caregiver updates
Anchor Mind offers fast, reliable, and affordable emotional support, empowering elderly users and reducing caregiver stress. By combining simplicity, portability, and multi-sensory feedback, it improves independence, reduces anxiety, and provides peace of mind.
- Developed by Vachan Padival, Varuni Kulkuarni and Swati Sadalagi from Team Anchor Mind
-B.N.M. Institute of Technology, Bengaluru