Video Demo: Watch here

Inspiration

💡 Panic attacks and chronic anxiety affect millions of people every year, often catching them in moments when help is out of reach. Skog is designed to fill that gap, providing on-demand support to those who need it most. Whether it’s guiding users through calming exercises, contacting an emergency contact, or helping them uncover patterns in their anxiety triggers, Skog empowers individuals with immediate relief and long-term tools for managing their mental health. Skog isn’t just an app—it’s a lifeline for moments when you feel most alone.

What it does

🧠 Skog offers real-time, AI-driven support during panic attacks and anxiety episodes. It combines voice-assisted grounding techniques, emotional analysis, and automated emergency contact alerts to give users the tools they need to regain control. Key features include: Breathe: A soothing, voice-guided breathing exercise enhanced with visual cues, using Cartesia API for calming narration. 3 Senses: A grounding exercise where users are guided to focus on their environment—what they see, hear, and feel—facilitated by real-time feedback from a voice assistant powered by VAPI. Talk with Skog: An empathetic AI agent provides emotional support, with responses adapted through real-time analysis of the user’s emotional state via Hume EVI. Anxiety Trigger Detection: Skog identifies recurring anxiety triggers, offering users personalized coping strategies and insights for long-term management. Community Forum: A supportive space where users can share their stories, connect, and learn from each other’s experiences.

How we built it

🛠️ Frontend: Next.js and React for creating a smooth and intuitive user interface. TailwindCSS and Shadcn for sleek, adaptable styling. Framer Motion to ensure an engaging, visually-pleasing experience. Backend: Firebase for secure data management and user authentication. Twilio for sending SMS notifications to emergency contacts during critical moments. Cartesia API for real-time voice narration that guides users through calming exercises. VAPI for interactive, real-time feedback during grounding exercises. Hume EVI to detect user emotions and personalize responses based on their current emotional state. OpenAI and Google Search API to analyze anxiety triggers and recommend reliable coping strategies.

Challenges we ran into

🤔 Building a seamless user experience without a dedicated designer or Figma mockups. Integrating real-time WebSockets for communication was more complex than anticipated, leading to delays. Spent too much time dilly-dallying in SF (but who doesn't?)

Accomplishments we're proud of

💪 Successfully delivering a fully functional app that offers real-time support during panic attacks. Seamlessly integrating multiple APIs to create a cohesive, responsive user experience.

What we learned

🌟 Project Scoping: We gained valuable insights into defining achievable goals within short timeframes. API Integration: We mastered connecting WebSockets and handling complex emotion-detection APIs. Debugging in Next.js: Thanks to our mentor, we can now say goodbye to endless NextJS console logs.

What's next

for Skog 🚀 Refined Narration: We plan to enhance the app's voice interaction to make it more personalized and compassionate. Professional Contact Integration: Skog complements therapy but isn’t a replacement. Our next step is integrating trusted professional contacts for more structured long-term care. Long-Term Tracking: We’ll expand Skog’s ability to track anxiety patterns over time, offering deeper insights for better mental health management.