The Problem
Students often waste time searching for open study spaces—walking across campus without knowing which areas are available. This led to frustration, inefficient use of time, and underutilized resources.
The Opportunity
Given that students always carry their phones, we saw a chance to create a context-aware mobile solution that passively tracks availability and helps students find and book study spots in real time.
The Approach
Study Spot Finder is a mobile app that uses geofencing, gestures, and inactivity tracking to auto-update status. Students can book seats, see friends, and toggle modes hands-free.
Research & Planning
I noticed that many students sat alone at large tables, leaving nearby students walking around trying to find space. In one case, a friend passed by, saw me, and excitedly asked to join — even though there were no open seats nearby. This made it clear: students are more likely to share space if they know the person, but rarely sit with strangers. This inspired the idea to reduce wasted space through real-time seat visibility and a friend-finding feature, making study coordination easier and more efficient.
Design & Development
To help students find and book study spots, we mapped out key user flows and interactions early on. I designed Figma mockups and component layouts for the tab system, friend finder, profile controls, and booking screens.
We decided to incorporate geofencing, gesture triggers, and status toggles to reduce friction. I built and tested the front-end using Jetpack Compose, integrating Firebase for real-time updates. Usability tests showed that users could book a spot and enter “Do Not Disturb” mode in under 15 seconds.
🔐 Google Login
Students can log in with Google, making setup quick and seamless while saving their profile preferences.
📍 Search & Save Study Spots
Users can browse nearby locations, check availability, and bookmark their favorite study spots for quick access.
📌 Book a Table via Map
Tap on the interactive map to view nearby seats and book them instantly with a single tap.
📷 Scan QR Code to Book
For walk-ins, students can scan the QR code placed on tables to claim a seat and auto-update their status.
✋ Gesture Detection
Raise your phone face-up to activate “Do Not Disturb” mode, reducing distractions during focused study sessions.
👥 Add & Join Friends
Users can add friends and view their current study locations, making it easier to join and study together.
⚙️ Profile Settings & Logout
Edit user preferences like default duration, notifications, and location. Easily log out to end your session securely.
Evaluation & Results
We tested Study Spot Finder with the Gordon Library 3rd floor due to limited map data across campus. Within this zone, users successfully booked seats and entered Do Not Disturb mode in under 15 seconds. The app reliably tracked status and friend locations using geofencing and gesture detection. These early results confirmed technical viability and laid the foundation for scaling to more buildings and improving friend coordination features.
15-Second Booking
Users were able to book a seat and start a study session in under 15 seconds, reducing time spent searching and improving flow.
Friend Coordination
The Join Me feature helped friends find each other and share tables, boosting group study and space usage.
Smarter Space Use
By surfacing real-time availability, the app helped reduce empty seats and make better use of limited study areas.
