Unlock Punctuality: Lately’s Gamified App Revolutionizes Timeliness!
Lately, a revolutionary app designed specifically for individuals with ADHD, has recently launched on the App Store. This innovative application aims to help users manage their time effectively and arrive at their destinations punctually, all while rewarding them for their efforts.
Features of Lately: Your Companion for Timely Departures
Lately provides users with a comprehensive travel management system. Here’s how it works:
- Departure Reminders: Users receive notifications 30 minutes, 10 minutes, and 5 minutes before it’s time to leave.
- Live Activities: The app features Live Activities on both iPhone and Apple Watch, displaying a countdown timer to help users stay on track.
Gamified Rewards System
To enhance motivation, Lately incorporates a point reward system categorized into four difficulty levels:
- Goldfish: Earn 3 points for being early, 2 points for being on time, and 0 for being late.
- Coffee: A slightly more challenging level.
- Grown Up: For advanced users.
- Yoda: The toughest level that deducts 2 points for tardiness.
As users accumulate points, they unlock various virtual characters, acting as achievement badges that provide a sense of accomplishment.
Addressing Time Management Challenges
Lately was developed by indie developer Erik MacInnis to tackle the common challenges faced by individuals with ADHD, particularly issues related to time management.
“I’ve always been the ‘late one’ in my friend group,” MacInnis shared with TechCrunch. “For many of us, our toughest challenges to leaving on time are time blindness and poor time estimation. Lately addresses both of these problems by keeping the user constantly aware of when to leave, and it’s gamified, so you get points when you arrive on time, which honestly feels good.”
Comparing Lately to Other ADHD Apps
While there are other applications aimed at similar audiences, such as the Android app Time to Leave, MacInnis believes they lack modern features. Most existing ADHD apps, like Structured and TickTick, primarily focus on task management and do not specifically address the time blindness experienced during commuting.
During our testing phase, we found Lately to be quite effective, though we noted a potential improvement: providing time estimations for users who rely on public transportation or cycling in large cities. Currently, the app supports only driving or walking directions.
Future Developments for Lately
Despite this minor limitation, Lately has the potential to thrive among its target demographic. Individuals with ADHD often struggle with motivation, and specialists recommend implementing a reward system to enhance self-discipline. Another popular gamified app, Finch, has gained recognition for its point system that encourages users to complete daily tasks.
MacInnis has exciting plans for Lately’s future, including:
- A social feature that notifies friends when users leave, are five minutes away, and upon arrival.
- Development of an Android version to reach a broader audience.
Lately is available for free, with an optional premium subscription priced at $3 per month or $10 per year, offering additional features like customizing difficulty levels and scheduling recurring trips.
For more information on time management tools and ADHD resources, visit ADDitude.
