A meditative blanket to help relax before sleep, an app to strengthen communication in couples after a partner returns from combat reserve duty, a night lamp that encourages children to stick to a hobby, a desktop robot that promotes self-regulation of phone usage in youth, a tool that allows couples to feel connected even from a distance, and an AI app that translates a dog’s body language into insights for its owner.
As the war enters its second year, it’s becoming clear once again that a home is far more than a living space. It is a place of calm, security, familial bonds, intimacy, learning, and even self-connection.
With this understanding, students at the miLAB Media Innovation Lab at the Sammy Ofer School of Communications, Reichman University, devoted the past academic year to developing technological experiences that correspond with life at home and the human needs that emerge from it—during both everyday life and emergencies.
The process began with identifying a psychological need, conducting theoretical research on it, exploring existing psychological solutions, and translating them into a technological experience. Throughout the year, the students implemented advanced product-research methodologies, including market research, field research, interviews, and user testing. At the end of the process, user studies were conducted within the target audience to verify the impact of each experience.
At miLAB’s end-of-year event at Reichman University, held in collaboration with the schools of Psychology, Computer Science, and Entrepreneurship, twelve outstanding final projects were presented by undergraduate students. This year, in light of the war, the focus was on themes of home and mental well-being.
According to Dr. Noa Morag, Head of the Interactive Specialization at Reichman's School of Communications:
"In designing new user experiences, we place the person at the center—this year, it was natural to focus on what happens inside the home. Our graduates gain skills in design, product management, and innovation that directly impact people’s lives."
Professor Oren Zuckerman, founder of miLAB at Reichman University, added: "This year more than ever, the importance of technology as a tool for mental well-being is clear to all. Our students learned how to use deep research processes to define and develop applications and physical technologies that not only provide value to users but also contribute to their emotional wellness."
Notable Projects:
TailTalk – Truly Understand Your Dog
Students: Dana Bibas, Noam Margalit, Tamar Netzer, Ela Koster, Yahli Shavit
The TailTalk AI-powered app can analyze text, audio, and visual messages in real time—such as voice recordings, dog photos, and behavioral descriptions. After setting up an initial behavioral profile, the app returns personalized insights into the dog's emotional state and encourages empathetic communication between the pet and its owner.
Grow Together – Personal and Couple Growth
Students: Daniel Eckstein, Raz Naim, Dan Fixer, Shir Yehonatan, Eldar Wolpert
This app is based on the psychological Self-Expansion Theory. Using a personal preference questionnaire, a recommendation algorithm suggests shared activities with the highest potential for personal and couple growth. It encourages stepping out of one's comfort zone and includes a gentle mechanism for tracking closeness over time.
COME-BACK – Strengthening Relationships After Combat Reserve Duty
Students: Ori Gal, Shahar Greenboim, Michal Widochinsky, Lihi Safran, Noa Rand
Since October 7, partners of soldiers in combat reserve duty have faced emotional strain and communication challenges upon their partner's return—sometimes leading to emotional distancing. Based on research in couple communication, a daily app was developed with short exercises to enhance closeness and dialogue. A study with 30 participants showed improvement in relationship satisfaction and a decrease in negative communication. One user shared: "Using the app taught me tools that help pause, appreciate the good, and work on what needs improvement." This project was developed under miLAB’s Tech and Mental Health Hub, a joint initiative with clinical psychology faculty.
Switcher – Setting the Mood Before You Walk In
Students: Mai Gripel, Romi Zilberberg, Maya Cohen, Roy Katz, Eden Lulu
Ever come home from work in a bad mood? Switcher helps you choose the mindset you want to bring home. It’s a voice assistant based on ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy) that helps parents emotionally transition from work mode to home mode. After a short onboarding process where users set personal values, ideal mood, and relaxation tools (e.g., music, breathing, affirmations), Switcher connects to Waze, detects the drive home, and plays tailored background content—creating a natural emotional transition without active intervention.
Calma – Interactive Mindfulness
Students: Mai Barzilai, Teodor Dai Maman, Shira Dagan, Ziv Nisim, Yuval Fligman
Calma is a heated meditative blanket designed to relieve stress and intrusive thoughts before sleep. It integrates mindfulness techniques, specifically body scanning—focusing attention on different body parts and observing sensations. The blanket contains six warming pads placed along the arms, abdomen, and legs. During the three-minute session, the user is guided to focus on the warming area, fostering inner awareness and calm.
Sticky – A Lamp That Lights Up Motivation
Students: Dan Green, Noa Lazar, Mor Ron, Maya Schechter
Sticky is a smart night lamp designed to help kids commit to hobbies out of intrinsic motivation rather than external rewards. Here’s how it works: The child chooses a hobby for two weeks and inserts a physical token into the lamp. Each time they engage in the hobby, they press a button on the lamp. The lamp displays their consistency—its light grows brighter as the habit continues. After two weeks, colorful light effects celebrate their success—providing encouraging and non-judgmental reinforcement.
Palmo – No More Distractions
Students: Noam Zuaretz, Daniel Levy, Mai Primo, Elin Kart, Michal Shapira
Palmo is a smart desktop robot designed to help teenagers cope with phone distractions during study time by encouraging self-regulation. When the phone is placed on its surface, Palmo signals the start of a focus session with a quiet bowing motion—a symbolic commitment to concentration. As long as the phone stays put, Palmo remains still. If the user reaches for the phone, a proximity sensor triggers vibration. If the phone is lifted, a light sensor activates a dramatic "collapse" motion, simulating emotional distress and highlighting the moment of choice.
