Mugger Simulator

Inspiration

The idea for “Mugger Simulator” stemmed from the frustration of constantly losing focus while working or studying. We wanted to create a tool so unbearably annoying that it would force users to stay on task. Inspired by the concept of gamifying productivity and taking it to the extreme, we decided to make procrastination a truly unpleasant experience.

What it does

When our user is distracted, we will kindly remind them to focus back to their work. “Mugger Simulator” is a brutally effective productivity enforcer. Here’s how it works:

Monitors Focus: Tracks your head movements and detects when you’re not looking at your screen.
Tab Policing: Monitors your browser activity and punishes you for opening non-work-related tabs.
Annoyance Alerts: Blasts obnoxiously loud and jarring audio.
Customization: Allows users to choose their own themes with audio files, from mildly annoying to absolutely intolerable AND upload their own themes.

How we built it

Frontend

tkinter

Backend

opencv
pytorch
transformer

Challenges we ran into

Accurate Detection: Implementing reliable eye/head movement tracking and distinguishing between intentional breaks and genuine distraction.
- Performance Optimization: Ensuring the tool doesn’t slow down users’ devices while aggressively monitoring activity.
- Customizability: Adding flexible options for themes and sounds without compromising the “annoying” core.

On top of that, tkinter was really a challenge!

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Developed a fully functional monitoring system capable of detecting distractions in real-time.
Created an intuitive (yet purposely grating) user interface for customization.
Balanced annoyance with a touch of humor, making the experience frustrating yet oddly satisfying.