Published May 3, 2025 © GPL3+

Accessible FocusFlow – color & sound for work rhythms

Work smarter, rest better — this accessible micro:bit project uses light & music to gently guide your energy and focus through work phases

BeginnerFull instructions provided1 hour316

Accessible FocusFlow – color & sound for work rhythms

Things used in this project

Hardware components

BBC micro:bit board

Seeed Studio Grove Shield for micro:bit v2.0

Adafruit NeoPixel Ring: WS2812 5050 RGB LED

Software apps and online services

vittascience

Story

In today's digital age, maintaining a balanced work rhythm is crucial for mental well-being. FocusFlow project addresses this by integrating visual and auditory cues to guide users through structured work and rest phases. This approach not only promotes productivity but also ensures accessibility for individuals with visual impairments.

1. Health data: color and its effects on mental and physical states

Each color phase is chosen based on research linking specific light wavelengths to psychological and physiological responses:

Green Light (Phase 1: 10 min – Warm-Up) Associated with stress reduction and relaxation. Studies suggest that green light exposure can alleviate anxiety and promote a calming effect.
Blue Light (Phase 2: 20 min – Deep Focus) Linked to increased alertness and concentration. Blue-enriched lighting has been shown to enhance cognitive performance and focus.
Orange Light (Phase 3: 20 min – Transition) Warm hues like orange can facilitate a smooth transition from intense focus to relaxation, preparing the mind for rest.
Violet Light (Phase 4: 10 min – Rest & Reflection) Often associated with meditation and tranquility, violet light can aid in winding down and promoting a restful state.

2. Accessibility through sound

To ensure inclusivity, each phase is paired with a distinct musical piece:

Phase 1: "Ode to Joy" – A gentle introduction to commence the work session.
Phase 2: "Prelude in C" by Bach – Encourages deep concentration.
Phase 3: Funk-inspired tune – Signals the transition from focus to relaxation.
Phase 4: Soft piano scales – Facilitates rest and mindfulness.

These auditory cues are designed to guide users, including those with visual impairments, through the work cycle seamlessly.

3. Hardware & Coding

I used three hardware elements in order to program this project: a micro:bit, LEDs and a Grove shield to connect them. And I wrote a code in micropython language on Vittascience programming interface to make micro:bit showing a particular light at the same time with playing a particular song associated with a work phase. Here is a video where I explain in details how to prepare this project and I show a demonstration of how it works:

Code

Detailed code of the project FocusFlow

from microbit import *
import neopixel
import music

NP_LED_COUNT_0 = 30

# Neopixel on pin0
np_0 = neopixel.NeoPixel(pin0, NP_LED_COUNT_0)
# Buzzer on pin_speaker

def neopixel_showAllLed(neoPx, ledCount, R, G, B):
  for i in range(ledCount):
    neoPx[i] = (R, G, B)
  neoPx.show()

neopixel_showAllLed(np_0, NP_LED_COUNT_0, 51, 204, 0)
for_in range(37)
music.play(music.ODE, loop=False)
neopixel_showAllLed(np_0, NP_LED_COUNT_0, 51, 102, 255)
for_in range(134)
music.play(music.PRELUDE, loop=False)
neopixel_showAllLed(np_0, NP_LED_COUNT_0, 255, 153, 0)
for_in range(267)
music.play(music.FUNK, loop=False)
neopixel_showAllLed(np_0, NP_LED_COUNT_0, 102, 51, 255)
for_in range(75)
music.play(['c:8', 'd:8', 'e:8'])
music.play(['f:8', 'g:8', 'a:8'])
music.play(['b:8', 'c5:8', 'r:8'])