BrainSTEM

BrainSTΣM is an app that combats the onset of diseases in various focus areas through targeted and research-driven mini-games. BrainSTΣM has four mini-games: 🎮 Stack, a logic-based block stacking game combating dementia 🎮 Tile, a picture memorization game using user-selected photos as tiles to match, targeting Alzheimer's 🎮 Σ (Summation), a holistic quiz game incorporating spontaneity in its interface, combining all of the focus areas 🎮 Music, a rhythm game where users tap notes along with the melody of a variety of songs to alleviate arthritis pain Major features: 🎮 Specialized ‒ Each of BrainSTΣM's mini-games has a unique research basis, giving them a focus and purpose. 🎮 Preventative ‒ BrainSTΣM's intended purpose is preventing the onset or diminishing symptoms of various diseases that afflict the elderly. 🎮 Engaging ‒ The mini-games each log scores with sub-scores for users to improve with over time, and the interface is very user-friendly and interactive. As the brain ages, many processes slow, affecting the elderly's reflexes and productivity. Diseases such as arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and dementia impair the elderly’s ability to function. Many studies have shown that exercise, mental stimulation (reading, crosswords, and puzzles), music, and social interaction can help prevent worsening of symptoms of arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and dementia. The goal of BrainSTΣM is to impede the onset of these diseases in the elderly by providing four games (Stack, Tile, Summation, and Music) that help target specific areas of the brain that are affected by them. Stack is a logical block-stacking game that focuses on rule memorization. Each level adds another rule to block-stacking, for example: that the numbers 3 and 7 can’t be touching. This game is used to stimulate the brain with cognitive functioning for daily activity and combats the symptoms of dementia. Tile is a picture memorization game that uses the user gallery for tiles. User-inputted tiles are then matched and scored for accuracy and speed. This causes better connections to be made within the brain, reducing the symptoms of Alzheimer’s and similar diseases. Summation is a logic quiz that makes the user answer logic-based questions. This game is a holistic challenge that is spontaneous and user-adaptive. For example, a question might ask the user which answer is closest in distance to the question and a list of choices will be present. The user must choose the answers that are closest or else their response will be wrong. The goal of this app is to make the individual use parts of the brain associated with learning and spatial reasoning. Lastly, Music is a rhythm game with four songs that test reflexes and alleviate arthritis pain. Music helps to sharpen the user's focus and make them anticipate events within the game. Notes with a specific amount of time will appear along with the melody of the song and the user must touch the music notes as soon as possible. Some songs have slower tempos while others will have faster tempos. Some of the fast tempo songs may be difficult at first, but gradually users will be able to handle faster paced songs. This game was built to improve the elderly’s coordination and challenge them to move their joints and improve reflexes. BrainSTΣM was designed and created by the Blind Brook High School Computer Club. This app was created as part of the Westchester Mobile App Bowl. Our team won 1st place in the Usability category of the competition and the team was greatly humbled to receive this honor.