Stop Doom Scrolling Device (Ongoing)

Overview

This project started as an attempt to build a device that could replace most of the reasons I reach for my phone every day. Instead of relying on my phone for everything, I wanted a dedicated handheld device for music, games, photos, videos, and note-taking.

The goal wasn't to recreate a smartphone. It was to create something simpler and more intentional: a device focused on the activities I enjoy without notifications, social media feeds, or endless scrolling.

Why I Built It

Like a lot of people, I realized I was spending way too much time doom scrolling on my phone. The funny thing is that most of the time I wasn't even picking up my phone for social media. I was picking it up to listen to music, watch a video, take a picture, play a game, or write something down, and then somehow I'd end up scrolling for hours.

I wanted a device that did all the things I actually use my phone for, without the part where I accidentally lose hours scrolling.

So instead of downloading another productivity app, I decided it would be more fun to build my own device.

I've always liked handheld gaming. I grew up playing Nintendo DS games, especially Pokémon, but since the DS uses two screens and my device only has one, I decided to focus on Game Boy games instead. I had never really played many of the older Pokémon games, so adding Game Boy emulation felt like the perfect excuse to try them out.

Music was another big reason for building it. I listen to music all the time while studying, working on projects, and commuting, and I've always thought dedicated MP3 players were cool. Instead of relying on streaming services, I wanted a device where I could keep my own music library and simply press play.

I also enjoy taking pictures and the look of older digital cameras. Since I spend a lot of time watching videos and shows, I figured a video player should be part of the device too.

The last feature I wanted was note-taking. I am constantly thinking of project ideas or random things I want to remember later. Usually those thoughts end up buried somewhere in my phone notes, so I wanted a place where I could quickly write them down without getting distracted by everything else on my phone.