Namu – a smart companion that keeps you healthy
Type
Timeline
Personal Project
at Pforzheim University
Namu, a smart companion designed to bridge cultural insights from Korea and Germany, helping individuals cultivate healthier work habits. By blending proactive break reminders, mindful productivity tracking, and culturally sensitive nudges, Namu empowers users to work sustainably—without sacrificing well-being for efficiency
Aug - Feb 2024
Tools
Rhino
Keyshot, Blender
Figma
Miro
Namu
In an era where productivity is idolized, overwork has become an invisible yet pressing issue, leading to burnout, declining health, and deteriorating mental well-being. The problem is particularly acute in South Korea, where long working hours, workplace hierarchy, and social expectations discourage employees from taking necessary breaks. In contrast, Germany has a structured approach to work-life balance, emphasizing efficiency and personal responsibility.
Despite these differences, workers in both cultures struggle with self-imposed pressure, peer expectations, and the difficulty of recognizing when to take a break. Many individuals push themselves to exhaustion without realizing the long-term consequences on their health.
Namu is a smart companion designed to help individuals avoid overwork by integrating insights from both Korean and German cultural values.
Background
In modern workplaces, hustle culture glorifies overworking, making it difficult for individuals to set personal boundaries. Employees often fail to recognize when they are overworking, leading to chronic stress, burnout, and long-term health risks.
This issue is especially pronounced in South Korea, where deep-rooted Confucian values shape work ethics and interpersonal relationships. The emphasis on loyalty, hierarchy, and group success means that many workers feel pressured to conform, even when it negatively affects their health. Taking breaks is often seen as a sign of weakness or laziness, and leaving work before superiors can be frowned upon.
By contrast, in Germany, work-life balance is valued, and structured breaks are common. However, employees can still struggle with self-imposed pressure, a sense of duty, or high-performance expectations that push them to work beyond healthy limits.
the Problem
Understanding
Key Pain Points
Lack of Awareness
Many workers do not realize they are overworking until they experience burnout or physical symptoms.
Social Pressure
In hierarchical workplaces, employees may feel obligated to continue working as long as their superiors or colleagues do.
Guilt and Anxiety
Physical and Mental Health risks
Some individuals feel guilty for taking breaks, fearing they may be seen as less dedicated or hardworking.
Prolonged sitting, high stress, and lack of recovery time can lead to physical health issues such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, and mental health problems like anxiety and depression.
Meet Namu
The Solution
Namu is a smart desk companion designed to help individuals take necessary breaks without feeling guilty or socially uncomfortable. Inspired by both Korean and German cultural values, it integrates subtle, socially acceptable nudges to encourage healthier work habits while respecting workplace dynamics.
Namu operates by detecting overwork patterns using an ultrasonic sensor, which monitors how long a person has been sitting and working. Instead of abruptly interrupting tasks, Namu provides gentle reminders through subtle visual and audio cues, such as LED color changes and soft sound notifications, to encourage breaks in a non-disruptive way.
Understanding the hierarchical nature of Korean workplaces, Namu also offers socially aware nudging by discreetly sending notifications to a user’s phone rather than openly signaling a break, helping to avoid potential embarrassment.
What is Namu?
encouraging
Healthy Habits
Additionally, Namu includes a companion app that tracks work habits using a system similar to Tamagotchi, where users care for a virtual character that thrives based on healthy work behaviors.
The app also features a reward system, allowing users to earn digital coins for completing tasks and maintaining good work habits. This gamified approach motivates employees to take breaks and manage their workload effectively.
Furthermore, the app monitors daily health in the workspace by tracking sitting time and work patterns, helping users maintain a healthier balance between productivity and well-being.
For Korean Work Culture
Respects hierarchy and indirect communication
by providing subtle break reminders.
Accounts for nunchi by allowing notifications
to be discreet rather than public.
Encourages healthier habits without breaking group harmony, helping employees take breaks
without feeling like they are challenging authority.
For German Work Culture
Aligns with structured work habits, reinforcing
efficiency and clear time management.
Encourages personal responsibility while promoting a balanced work approach.
Uses clear but non-intrusive communication,
making break reminders an integrated part
of the workflow.
For Any Workplace
Reinforces self-care as a shared responsibility,
ensuring that employees do not feel guilty about resting.
Creates a healthy work environment by reducing stress, preventing burnout, and enhancing long-term productivity.
Adapts to different office dynamics, making it effective across various industries and workplace cultures.
Why Namu Works Across Cultures