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MindMachine/MVP.md

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MindMachine - MVP Definition

1. MVP Goal

The MVP shall prove that a smartphone can function as a simple personal mind machine by:

  • displaying controlled blinking light patterns on-screen,
  • outputting binaural audio through stereo headphones,
  • guiding the user through safe setup and session use,
  • supporting short, usable sessions with minimal configuration.

The MVP is a working prototype focused on core experience, safety, and reliability rather than breadth.


2. MVP Success Criteria

The MVP is successful if a user can:

  1. open the app,
  2. read and acknowledge the safety warnings,
  3. choose a preset,
  4. connect headphones,
  5. start a session,
  6. experience synchronized screen blinking and binaural audio,
  7. pause or stop the session at any time,
  8. finish the session without confusion or instability.

3. Included in MVP

3.1 Core session engine

  • Start, pause, resume, and stop a session
  • Configurable session duration
  • Countdown before start
  • Remaining time display

3.2 Visual stimulation

  • Full-screen flashing mode
  • Full-screen pulse/fade mode
  • Adjustable blink frequency
  • Adjustable screen brightness recommendation
  • Keep screen awake during session

3.3 Audio stimulation

  • Stereo binaural tone generation
  • Adjustable carrier frequency
  • Adjustable binaural beat difference frequency
  • In-app volume control or clear system-volume guidance
  • Headphone-required guidance

3.4 Presets

The MVP shall include at least 3 built-in presets:

  • Relax
  • Focus
  • Sleep Prep

Each preset includes:

  • duration
  • blink rate
  • light pattern
  • carrier frequency
  • binaural difference

3.5 Safety

  • First-run warning and acknowledgment flow
  • Session-start reminder to use stereo headphones
  • Explicit warning for seizure/photo-sensitivity risks
  • Stop immediately guidance for discomfort

3.6 Setup guidance

  • Brief instructions for how to place the phone in front of the eyes
  • Basic explanation of a DIY cardboard holder
  • Comfort and fit cautions

3.7 Completion flow

  • Session finished screen
  • Option to repeat session
  • Option to return to home screen

4. Excluded from MVP

The MVP does not need:

  • accounts or cloud sync
  • ambient background sounds
  • downloadable content
  • spoken voice guidance
  • printable holder templates
  • advanced animation editor
  • adaptive or biometric feedback
  • social/community features
  • analytics dashboard for users
  • medical claims or therapeutic workflows

5. MVP User Flow

  1. User opens app
  2. User reads onboarding + warnings
  3. User selects preset
  4. User verifies headphones and setup
  5. User starts countdown
  6. App enters full-screen session mode
  7. App runs synchronized light + audio session
  8. User pauses/stops or reaches session end
  9. App shows completion screen

6. MVP Screens

The MVP should include these screens:

  • Welcome / onboarding
  • Safety warning acknowledgment
  • Home / preset selection
  • Session setup
  • Active session screen
  • Session complete screen
  • Simple settings screen

7. MVP Technical Priorities

Implementation priority order:

  1. Stable session timing
  2. Reliable stereo audio generation
  3. Full-screen light rendering
  4. Safe interruption handling
  5. Clear UI for start/pause/stop
  6. Preset persistence

8. MVP Risks

Main risks for the MVP:

  • audio latency or instability,
  • timing drift between audio and visual patterns,
  • inconsistent brightness behavior across devices,
  • interruptions from calls/notifications,
  • unsafe use without proper warnings,
  • poor comfort if holder guidance is unclear.

The MVP should target Android first because:

  • native Android gives more direct control over audio/session behavior,
  • Android is more practical for experimental device-style applications,
  • screen/audio/session APIs are generally more flexible for this use case.

10. MVP Deliverable

The MVP deliverable is a native mobile app prototype that safely delivers a basic mind machine session experience with a small set of presets and a clean, minimal interface.