Schoolwork’s Social Media

‘Focus Friends’ is an app currently being designed by University of Pittsburgh student Carlton Gbur to monitor study hours, connect with friends for study sessions, and earn rewards for academic progress.

“Its like Strava or Goodreads but for student’s coursework” he explains.

What is it?

In this iPhone app, you can open a study session on campus, record how many seats you have open, and state the subject that you’re working on in order to open doors for others to collaborate. People can then join study sessions and complete subjects to earn rewards.

I was let in on a few photos of the working concept design:

How does it work?

Currently the app is in the stages of conceptualizing and designing. So, when the concept is complete, they can bring it to the Big Ideas Center at the University of Pittsburgh where they can ask for a grant to get the app hard coded. Or, a bigger company such as Google or a local digital agency can buy the idea and bring it to life themselves.

The philosophy that drives the concept is ideas about community and encouragement – by seeing your friend has an open study spot and is working on the same subject, you may be more likely to go study with them. The app makes student connections easy and fun, and motivates people by giving them an online presence to uphold.

Analysis

This idea speaks to how technology is being used as a vehicle to turn aspects of our lives into social capital via heightened surveillance. People get scared by that word, surveillance, but by definition it means “gives us information about the world” – there is doesn’t have to be any negative or positive connotation. So, as technology continues to develop and people get more comfortable with larger banks of data having their information, this app speaks to the infinite ways in which this new worldwide network can be capitalized upon. In this case, the app relies on people using academic validation as a form of social capital. It begs a larger question: to what extent will people allow themselves to be surveilled if there is promises of increased capital or efficiency?

The bigger question I am looking to revisit over time: What functions can technology serve, and in each function, what is afforded and what is lost?

In our world, this exchange is not a bad thing, it’s just the way things are. So, the real-world translation of this analysis is that the app opens new doors for people to find motivation and encouragement to study via social connections. It also creates networks of community for those who may have a hard time understanding a concept and provides resources for students to collaborate with one another.

Conclusion

Thank you to my friend for letting me in on this new project and letting me write about it!!

I will definitely send out a newsletter with updates on this new software – along with my profile so you guys can connect with me :))