February 2025

Pokodoro

A portable, haptic-feedback Pomodoro timer with a custom PCB, ESP32, and OLED display — because a vibration is a less intrusive way to know your session's up than a beep.

electronics·firmware·industrial design

Role: Solo designer, PCB designer & firmware engineer
Timeline: Ongoing since 2025
Stack: ESP32, custom PCB, vibration motor, OLED display, LiPo battery
Result: Working V1 prototype; enclosure and case-hardening ongoing

Project Overview

Pomodoro technique breakdown from Lifehack.org

I’m currently designing a portable, haptic-feedback based timer to help with the Pomodoro work technique. The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method designed to enhance productivity and focus. It involves breaking work into intervals, typically 25 minutes long, called “Pomodoros,” followed by a short break of about 5 minutes. After completing four Pomodoros, a longer break of 15-30 minutes is taken.

Objective

This timer is different from traditional timers because it allows the user to preset a designated “work duration” and “break duration” with the ability to automatically switch to the next session. Traditional timers only allow for a single countdown which is less ideal for the Pomodoro technique.

Additionally, the key feature of the timer is the haptic-feedback generated by the vibration motor. Traditional timers only allow for auditory or visual feedback which are not conducive to quiet work areas or visually “loud” environments such as a library or an office space. By integrating haptic-feedback into the timer, the user can be notified of the completion of a session by vibration, allowing for a less intrusive notification system.