I'm available for business trips to other cities for projects lasting a month or longer.
Welcome to Harmonic Disruption — where we challenge developers to create digital tools that break harmful patterns and create space for what matters.
A 3-Day Nonstop Online Challenge
June 27-30, 2025
Disruption
Harmonic
WE ENGINEER OUT DIGITAL DISRUPTIONS
In a world of endless scrolls and algorithmic rabbit holes, true innovation comes not from adding more noise, but from strategic, meaningful interruption.
to Elevate
Disrupt
THE Urgency
We need smarter approaches that work with human psychology, not against it.
Core Message
Problem Statement
Despite growing awareness of digital dependency, conventional solutions fail to create lasting change.
Research shows we're increasingly dependent on our digital devices, yet current approaches aren't effective enough. Simply limiting screen time or using blockers leads to frustration, causing most people to give up quickly. Effective solutions must align with our natural behaviors and psychological patterns to sustainably reduce digital overload.
The average person checks their phone 96 times daily and spends over 7 hours on digital devices.
Fact Highlight
SOLUTIONS
Create digital solutions that intentionally but constructively disrupt harmful digital patterns. Your challenge is to build tools that introduce strategic interruptions into users' digital experiences — intelligent interventions that break negative cycles and foster healthier relationships with technology.
During this 72-hour hackathon, you'll develop functional prototypes that demonstrate how thoughtful disruption can create space for reflection, awareness, and meaningful interaction without resorting to simple blocking or restrictive approaches.
The Challenge
SOLUTIONS
CODE YOUR WAY OUT OF DIGITAL OVERLOAD
What We're Looking For
Participants will develop solutions that might HAVE:
- Browser extensions that transform addictive websites into meaningful experiences
- Digital "circuit breakers" that detect doom-scrolling and intervene with perspective-shifting content
- Apps that introduce strategic delays before accessing distracting content, with the delay time adjusting based on usage patterns
- Systems that analyze digital behavior and suggest optimal moments for deep work or disconnection
- Applications that gradually increase "friction" as unhealthy usage patterns emerge
- Digital environments that subtly shift from engaging to disengaging as usage time increases
- Tools that identify repetitive thought patterns in digital communications and offer alternative perspectives
- Applications that inject unexpected but valuable content into predictable information streams
- Systems that create moments of genuine surprise that break users out of algorithmic comfort zones
- Notification replacement systems that consolidate and transform alerts into meaningful interactions
- Digital "speed bumps" that create space for reflection during transitions between applications
- Tools that transform passive consumption into active engagement through strategic interruption
Well-documented code showing your implementation approach
Code Repository
Impact Measurement
Methods for tracking whether the intervention successfully changed behavior
User Experience Flow
Documentation of the user journey and how the disruption integrates naturally
Intervention Logic
Clear explanation of how your system identifies when and how to intervene
Working Prototype
A functional demonstration of your concept that judges can test
Technical Requirements
← Your submissions need to have
DELIVERABLES
Practical Examples
SMART BEHAVIORAL TOOLS
#2 Morning Redirect
#1 Perspective Pivot
A system that doesn't set time limits but gradually changes the user experience as usage continues. For example, a video platform might subtly slow loading times, reduce autoplay reliability, or introduce short meaningful content between videos - creating natural stopping points without explicit blocking.
An app that detects when you first unlock your phone each morning. Rather than blocking your regular apps, it briefly presents a choice: "Would you prefer to start with a quick breathing exercise or a brain teaser before checking notifications?" This creates a small but significant pause before diving into reactivity.
A desktop tool that learns your productivity patterns through keyboard and mouse activity. When it identifies you entering a distracted state (rapid app switching, short focus periods), it doesn't just suggest a break but offers a specific 2-minute activity matched to your current task and energy level.
A browser extension that tracks your time on social media. After 20 minutes, instead of showing the usual feed, it transforms the page to display only 5 high-quality posts followed by a question like "What were you hoping to find here today?" The key innovation is that it doesn't block access but changes the experience at the right moment.
#5 Digital Boundary Enforcer
#4 Communication Pattern Tool
An email or messaging assistant that identifies when you're writing in circular patterns or using certain emotional language. Instead of simply flagging these patterns, it introduces small reframing suggestions at the moment of writing, helping you recognize habitual communication patterns.
#3 Work Rhythm Enhancer
#2 Morning Redirect
#1 Perspective Pivot
A system that doesn't set time limits but gradually changes the user experience as usage continues. For example, a video platform might subtly slow loading times, reduce autoplay reliability, or introduce short meaningful content between videos - creating natural stopping points without explicit blocking.
An app that detects when you first unlock your phone each morning. Rather than blocking your regular apps, it briefly presents a choice: "Would you prefer to start with a quick breathing exercise or a brain teaser before checking notifications?" This creates a small but significant pause before diving into reactivity.
A desktop tool that learns your productivity patterns through keyboard and mouse activity. When it identifies you entering a distracted state (rapid app switching, short focus periods), it doesn't just suggest a break but offers a specific 2-minute activity matched to your current task and energy level.
A browser extension that tracks your time on social media. After 20 minutes, instead of showing the usual feed, it transforms the page to display only 5 high-quality posts followed by a question like "What were you hoping to find here today?" The key innovation is that it doesn't block access but changes the experience at the right moment.
#5 Digital Boundary Enforcer
#4 Communication Pattern Tool
An email or messaging assistant that identifies when you're writing in circular patterns or using certain emotional language. Instead of simply flagging these patterns, it introduces small reframing suggestions at the moment of writing, helping you recognize habitual communication patterns.
#3 Work Rhythm Enhancer
BUILD TECH THAT BREAKS THE SCROLL CYCLE
- Work within existing digital flows, not alongside them
- Create moments of genuine surprise that break patterns
- Require minimal user configuration to remain effective
- Transform digital experiences rather than simply limiting them
Our "Harmonic Disruption" tools should:
Unlike typical wellness apps that often:
- Get ignored alongside other notifications
- Create guilt rather than change
- Require high user motivation to be effective
- Add more "to-dos" to already busy lives
Technical Paradigm Shift
Participants can develop their solutions as:
- Browser extensions
- Mobile or desktop applications
- APIs or middleware solutions
- Web platforms or dashboards
- AI-powered assistants or chatbots
- Command-line tools with novel interfaces
- Social media integrations
- Email or messaging enhancements
Implementation Approaches
TOOLS
JUNE 27, 2025 (FRIDAY)
18:00 (UTC)
18:00 (UTC)
REGISTRATION DEADLINE & HACKATHON START
JUNE 30, 2025 (MONDAY)
18:00 (UTC)
18:00 (UTC)
SUBMISSION DEADLINE
JULY 1-5, 2025
JUDGING PERIOD
JULY 6, 2025
WINNERS ANNOUNCEMENT
Timeline
FLOW
INDUSTRY LEADERS AWAIT YOUR SUBMISSION
Industry Leaders as Your Judges
SOLUTIONS
Experienced engineering leader and entrepreneur with a background in marketplaces, AI/ML, and accessibility, formerly leading teams at Uber Elevate and Thumbtack.
United States
Ananda Kanagaraj Sanka
Sergey Antonovich
United States
Embedded systems engineer developing real-time software for autonomous vehicles and award-winning digital instruments with intuitive, expressive interfaces.
Engineer with 6+ years in cloud, big data, and blockchain, building scalable B2B solutions and applying AI to real-world problems.
United States
Vishal Chaurasia
Technology leader with 18+ years in AI, data, cybersecurity, and cloud, driving innovation at Oracle and Dell, and serving as a judge for global tech and AI awards.
United States
Sridhar Korimilli
Software Engineer Building Privacy and Security Infrastructure.
United States
Mohit Jha
Judging Criteria
EVALUATION
40%
30%
30%
- Thoughtful integration into existing digital flows
- Creative approaches to introducing "friction"
- Balance between disruption and usability
- Visual and interaction design quality
Design & User Experience
Technical Implementation
- Quality and scalability of code
- Innovative use of available technologies
- Security and privacy considerations
- Performance and reliability
Psychological Impact
- Evidence-based approach to behavioral change
- Effectiveness in breaking established patterns
- Strategic timing and contextual awareness
- Balance between disruption and user experience
ALL JUDGES
VOICES
Prizes
AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING
PROJECTS
PROJECTS
AWARDS
$ 300
Third Place:
$ 200
Second Place:
$ 300
First Place:
$ 1000
Community
Award
Award
Developers at Raptors build circuit-breakers for digital overload, not just another mindfulness reminder.
Our code creates deliberate fractures in endless content streams, returning control to human hands instead of algorithms.
← JOIN THE DIGITAL REBELLION.
Our code creates deliberate fractures in endless content streams, returning control to human hands instead of algorithms.
← JOIN THE DIGITAL REBELLION.
Ready to Create Meaningful Disruption?
For all inquiries and partnership opportunities, please contact us below.
Organized solely for social good [and fun] and designed by Hackathon Raptors. A non-profit community — UK [C.I.C] — 15 557 917.
