Thumb Trip
Connecting scrolling and digital wellbeing
7/31/20252 min read
Thumb Trip: Help Us Use Our Phones More Mindfully
What it is
A simple web app that tracks how much we scroll on our phones--created as a fun awareness tool rather than a complete tracking system.
The inspiration
Three months into quitting social media, I found myself reflecting deeply on my daily relationship with technology and searching for ways to make it healthier. One evening, while waiting for my son to fall asleep, I had a lightbulb moment - what if people could actually see how much they scroll each day? I brainstormed the idea with Claude, my trusted AI assistant, and together we designed this web app to help others become more mindful of our digital habits.
What it does
Built as a playful awareness tool that helps people think about our phone habits without judgment. While full system integration isn't technically possible yet due to privacy and platform limitations, ThumbTrip demonstrates the concept by measuring scrolling within the app itself. It transforms those numbers into fun, relatable comparisons - like showing whether we've scrolled the height of the Empire State Building or the length of a football field.
What it offers
Tracks your scrolling - Keeps count of how much we scroll
Makes it relatable - Turns boring numbers into fun comparisons we can actually picture
Teaches interesting facts - Shares eye-opening information about phone use and digital habits
Simple design - Clean and easy to use, designed to spark reflection rather than add screen time
Raises awareness - Gets people thinking about our digital consumption patterns
Why it matters
Many of us feel overwhelmed by how much time we spend on our phones but don't know where to start. This web app serves as a conversation starter about digital wellness, showing what mindful phone tracking could look like in a friendly, non-judgmental way.
The human touch
Designed as a proof-of-concept that puts awareness first. Rather than promising complete solutions, it helps us start thinking about our relationship with technology and imagine what more mindful digital habits might look like.
This project shows how even simple tools can spark important conversations about technology's role in our lives.
Technologies: Progressive Web App, JavaScript, responsive design, behavioral analytics