Energy Is Finite
Cognitive capacity doesn't refill daily. Debt accumulates across days, not hours.
Medical-grade stabilization system. Not a habit tracker. Not a wellness app. Enforced rest, external regulation, and escalation when self-advocacy fails.
Foundation
These truths override all other design decisions. They're non-negotiable.
Cognitive capacity doesn't refill daily. Debt accumulates across days, not hours.
Overexertion today causes meltdown 1-3 days later. You can't feel the damage in real-time.
Calendar predicts crashes better than "I feel fine." Trust data over sensation.
Executive dysfunction blocks initiation, not intent. System cannot require motivation.
Oversleeping after crashes is expected, not failure. It's the brain healing.
Not psychological, not controllable. System must work without requiring speech.
Replacing the service dog's regulatory role with technology and trusted people.
Not failures. Missed prompts mean capacity is low. System adapts, never punishes.
State Machine
Five distinct states determine prompts, escalation, and support behavior.
Stable capacity. Rare state given current severity.
3 check-ins per dayDefault state. Reduced cognitive bandwidth.
5-7 micro promptsSpeech shutdown active. No verbal response expected.
3-5 prompts (no response)Meltdown imminent or active. Crisis mode.
Recovery prompts onlyPost-meltdown. Minimum stimulation required.
Minimal promptsDaily Protocol
Non-negotiable daily structure. Stability before productivity.
Prevent early spoon debt. No planning, no decisions until stabilized.
Avoid crossing meltdown threshold. Mandatory rest block is non-negotiable.
Historically the most dangerous period. No "just one more thing."
Sensory downshift. Collapse at bedtime means protocol failed earlier.
Interface
Single screen. 5 giant buttons. No navigation, no scrolling, no reading required.
Owner View
Caregiver View
Safety
Push-first architecture. SMS/calls only as fallback.
Audio check-in via Echo
Free"I'm on it" or "Can't"
FreeIf C can't respond
FreeIf no ack or HELP
PaidDevelopment
Mockups must be approved before any code is written.
Create visual mockups of all screens. Get explicit approval. No code until approved.
Approval RequiredLaravel project, database schema, migrations, state machine.
Code PhaseEndpoints for state, check-ins, protocol, caregiver access.
Code PhaseVue single-screen with 5 buttons, caregiver view.
Code PhaseJob scheduler, missed detection, auto-transitions.
Code PhaseGoogle Calendar sync, load score, event buffers.
Code PhasePush notifications, Twilio SMS/call, acknowledgment flow.
Code PhaseAudio prompt delivery via Echo devices.
Code PhaseConstraints
These anti-patterns are explicitly forbidden. They cause harm.
Energy Management
Using Spoon Theory to understand and manage cognitive load.
Every activity has multiple dimensions of cost. After TBI, the brain works much harder to handle anything that deviates from routine.
A 30-minute task might need 2-3 hours of recovery. This is normal.
"Borrowing spoons" usually means 1-3 days of recovery instead of hours.
Scrolling your phone doesn't count. Your brain needs actual downtime.
Multitasking drains energy much faster. Sequential, not parallel.