Project Overview
During my Shad 2022 experience, I was placed in a team with five strangers and tasked with designing a solution to improve wellness among Canadians. Given the recent and ongoing impact of the pandemic, this was a relevant yet broad challenge with many potential directions. After careful consideration, we chose to focus on Canadian youth—a demographic we could relate to—developing a solution that promoted both social and physical well-being.
The iGNYTE team + friends :)
The Problem
In Canada, "[o]nly 4.8% of children (ages 5-11) and 0.8% of youth (ages 12-17) were meeting 24-hour movement behaviour guidelines during COVID-19 restrictions, compared to the 15% (5-17 years) prior to the pandemic" (ParticipACTION, 2021). In addition, "62% of kids and teens were being less physically active outdoors [and] 79% of kids and teens were spending more leisure time on screens" (ParticipACTION, 2021). Physical inactivity results in an increased risk of heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes, and cancer (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2022).
There are also many benefits to being physically active such as improved cognitive ability, improved bone and musculoskeletal health, improved sleep, reduced anxiety, the prevention of unhealthy weight gain, and the prevention of numerous chronic diseases (National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2022).
Yet still, "the [Canadian] ParticipACTION Report Card gives children and youth a D+ for Overall Physical Activity and a D+ for Sedentary Behaviours" (ParticipACTION, 2021) despite clear benefits.
Our Goals
To create a positive, intimate, group environment for youth 🌟
To connect youth with their friends to encourage physical activity 🤝
To create a feeling of personal and group success and achievement to incentivize adding physical activity to their busy schedules 🏆
To foster a community of physically active youth 🌱
To build a sense of accountability for youth who struggle with committing to being physically active ✅
And thus… iGNYTE was born!
Our Solution
With Canadian youth facing alarmingly low levels of physical activity—exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic—our solution seeks to combat this growing concern. Physical inactivity, which can lead to serious health risks such as heart disease and Type 2 Diabetes, is also linked to increased screen time and reduced outdoor activity. To address this, we developed iGNYTE, a product designed specifically for youth aged 13-18, combining a friendship lamp and a fitness tracking app. Our solution fosters social accountability by encouraging users to set goals with friends, receive reminders, and share progress, making physical activity more engaging and accessible. iGNYTE helps youth stay committed to their wellness journey, improving both physical health and overall well-being.
