My Moai
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My Moai
Moai empowers users to develop
relational intelligence using personalized AI guidance, interactive activities and reflective conversations to build and nurture meaningful and long-lasting connections.
The problem of social disconnection
Did you know?
Loneliness has the same effect as smoking
daily
15
The rate of loneliness amongst young Americans has increased every year between 1976 and 2019 (OSG, 2023).
Causes of social disconnection
Increased digital interactions
Hyper-individualist
Culture
Decreasing interpersonal trust
Changes in
family structures
The Loneliness Epidemic in Young People in America
Generation-wise reporting of the percentage of feeling lonely in childhood
(American National Family Life Survey, December, 2021)
American youth self-reporting
61%
"Seriously lonely” in 2020
63%
Experiencing depression and anxiety from loneliness in 2019
A paradoxical crisis of connection
Despite the abundance digital platforms facilitating social interaction, many young people still grapple with profound loneliness and social disconnection.
We know that...
“Socially connected will be a lifelong need, like food and warmth.”
- Mathew Lieberman, Social: How our brains are Wired to Connect
BUT WHAT IF young Americans could learn and foster meaningful relationships (online and offline) as an important aspect of their well-being?
Why hasn’t anyone solved this yet?
“Harmful ideologies have affected our curiosity. We need to rekindle that aspect amongst us, as human beings - and have the curiosity of a 5 year old to know and learn about each other to stay connected. This interpersonal curiosity is the solution to our social disconnection, and even loneliness.”
-- Dr Niobe Way, Professor of Developmental Psychology at NYU
Gaps in Existing Solutions
Social Media Platforms
(Instagram, Tiktok, Tumblr, Youtube)
People are connected but there’s a skill gap for building meaningful connections both online and offline
Meaningful questions asked during game settings lack sustained impact outside the game circle.
One-size fits all content
There is a need for more personalized, tailored interventions that account for individual differences & specific needs
Therapy and Helplines
Lacks focus on long-term strategies to build and maintain social connections.
How did I dig deep into research problem?
Initial Assumptions
People are aware of their loneliness and care about being social
Tanvi Vartak
Physical distance is the main reason behind loneliness
Tanvi Vartak
Re-designing interaction on social media platforms can address the problem
Tanvi Vartak
Methodology for Research
Literature Review
User
Interviews
Expert
Consultation
User Characteristics
12 participants
Born between 1991-2012
The interviews took place through the approach of transformative interviewing, a practice that focuses on fostering deep connections between the interviewee and interviewer through the process of active listening and thoughtful questioning, by prioritizing "thick" questions to build reciprocal empathy.
Themes of User Research Interview
Relational Intelligence
Education
Experiences/ Challenges in Connection
Support for Forming Connections
Awareness of Impact of Social Connections
Technology Use and Social Interactions
Emotional Needs and
Preferences
Nuggets from Research
User Research on Social Relationships of Young People
Causes of feelings in disconnection and loneliness in young people
mODERN cULTURE
Fear and
Anxiety
Social media
Fear of missing
out on social media portrays a one-sided picture which increases feeling lonely
Young people experience relational and social anxiety which act as barriers
Absence of third space in modern society
hinders the formation of new social relationships
Introvert’s lack of self-confidence in social skills affects their outcomes in making friends increaseing feelings of loneliness
Focus on independence and confidence has created an aversion towards interdependence
Young people do not
self report as it requires awareness and acceptance
Lack of self-identification
Aversion to Interdependence
Identity and Personality type
sOCIAL dISCONNECTION AND lONELINESS
Key Insights from Research
Social connection changes over time, can be improved or compromised (OSG, 2023)
We think we are great listeners. But the truth is relational intelligence needs to be learnt and cultivated as we have lost our humanness because of harmful ideologies (Way et al, 2018)
Building a culture of care is important to rebuild our social fabric (OSG, 2023)
Brainstorming
Games
Health
Design
Learning
Personalisation
Culture
Technology
Moai: The Solution
In the Japanese islands of Okinawa, Moai (模合) are social support groups formed when the members are young children.
They commit to each other to provide varying support for social, financial, health, or spiritual interests.
Moais are considered one of the leading factors in increasing the lifespan of the Okinawan people. Thus, making the region among the highest concentration of centenarians in the world.
Mo.AI: Our Solution
Our solution is inspired by the idea developing the skills to consciously create one’s own social groups by learning the skills of relational intelligence, with connections that vary across interests and support them throughout a lifetime.
Individual
Social
Interpersonal
Curiosity
Active Listening
Empathy
Authentic
Communication
Culture of Care
Asking Meaningful Questions
Paying attention
Perspective taking
Respectful
self-expression
Inclusivity
Adaptibility
Skills
- Active Listening
- Empathetic Communication
- Perspective Taking
- Reflection
- Interpersonal Curiosity
User
Features
- AI Nudge Companion
- Learner Personalisation
- Visualisation of growth in narrative
- Microlearning, scaffolding and experiential learning
Impact
- Consciously improving social connections for overall well-being
- Creating a culture of care within our communities
- Building life-long connections while improving relational intelligence in real-life situation
Principles of Moai
Developing Relational Intelligence
Why
Building one's Moai is an individual's commitment to empowering themselves to cultivate deeper and more meaningful relationships. To achieve this, we help users with the tools and skills of relational intelligence, that would ultimately lead them to greater connectedness.
What
Moai is learning platform where users embark on self-discovery and relationship-building. We help users visualize, practice and develop the essential skills of relational intelligence they need to thrive in their social relationships with confidence and authenticity.
Culture of Care
Technology for good
How
Moai makes learning personal and enjoyable by employing cutting edge-technology with evidence-based practices to create personalized playful learning experiences. In a judgment-free magic circle our platform offers guided exercises to real-time feedback, for users to learn and grow.
Use Case
Needs
Liam, 25
Graphic Designer, New York
- Introverted & shy
- Creative and visual
- Love birds
Persona
Liam works remotely from his small apartment in Brooklyn. The pandemic wasn’t the best on his mental health and his diminished social interaction made him more socially anxious post-COVID. He is always at a crossroad since he knows that his lack of social interaction is taking a toll on his mental health, but he finds it challenging to reach out to others and maintain connections.
Traits
- Fears of rejection leading to distress
- Overthinker and self-blamer
- Finds it hard to initiate and sustain meaningful connections
Challenges
- Hates social media
- Ghosts people, doesn’t know how to respond
- Struggles with feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt in social situations
Goals
- Develop the confidence and skills to initiate and maintain meaningful connections
- Learn how to navigate communication with people in a way that feels manageable and authentic
- Build a supportive network of friends and colleagues who understand and accept him as he does to them
Needs
- A safe, non-judgmental space to practice social skills and build confidence
- Personalized guidance and support in navigating social interactions and relationships
- Encouragement and motivation to step outside his comfort zone and take small risks in socializing
“I should reach out to people, but I don't know what to say”
“I feel like I'm always going to say or do something wrong which will make people push me away”
“I wish I had a close group of friends who just understood me”
“I am not good at socialising and if I try, I will be rejected”
“I will avoid the risk of getting hurt if I don't make a fool out of myself by trying “
“Only if I had good social skills would I be able to connect with others and cure my loneliness”
Empathy Map
Says
Thinks
Feels
Does
“Lonely and isolated especially after pandemic limited his physical and social interactions”
Find out what your company does well and where there are any weaknesses or room for development. You can use this to decide where to concentrate your efforts.
“Anxious and self-conscious about social skills and ability to connect with others”
"Frustrated by the inability of connecting with others and maintain meaningful relationships
Spends most free time along in his creative projects
Avoids social situations that make him feel anxious or uncomfortable.
Occasionally reaches out to old friends but struggles to maintain regular contact and deepen connection
Engages in solitary hobbies like birdwatching and photography.
Choose your supporting character
What would you like to call me?
Hi Liam! I am excited to be with you on your adventures!
Customized Supporting Character
Personalized supporting agent to foster a meaningful affective and emotional connection
Complements user's tendencies and provides support-based learning through hints and optimistic and actionable language
Offers personalized feedback and advice to enhance your learning experience
Personalized AI Companion
Personalized Feedback to your
unique situation and emotional state
Bite-sized learning with gradually increasing complexity for effective skill acquisition.
Conversational Communication and Active Learning to practice skills in a safe, supportive environment.
Visualisation of Social Circle
My Moai
Meaningful Social Network (150)
Sympathy Group (15)
Loved ones (5)
User
Social Group (35-50)
Attach faces and names to social circles for enhanced memory and emotional engagement
Encourages reflection and personalized strategies to strengthen bonds
Clarify social needs and goals through a visual map of meaningful connections
Keywords
Social Disconnection | Social Isolation | Loneliness |
Conflict or distance in existing or developing connections | Separation or retreat from social connection | Internalised feeling of being alone as a result of lack of social connenction |
Office of the Surgeon General (OSG). (2023)
My Roles
Project
Manager
Managed overall project strategy, timelines, and stakeholder outreach. Coordinated user interviews, concept testing, and usability testing phases.
Skills: Time management, stakeholder management, strategic planning, scheduling.
Researcher
Conducted extensive interdisciplinary secondary research across various fields and primary research including transformative interviewing and lean testing.
Skills: Literature review, transformative interviewing, lean testing, mixed methods research, analysis of interdisciplinary studies.
Designer
Developed concepts from research findings, tested these with users, and created visual designs for the final prototype.
Skills: Human-centered design, design thinking, game design, UX/UI design, prototyping.
Entrepreneur
Explored product-market fit, engaged with entrepreneurs and investors, and developed a business plan to assess the feasibility of the product launch.
Skills: Market analysis, business planning, customer discovery, networking with entrepreneurs, pitching to potential investors.