I have developed a two-player electronic tabletop game based on hand spinners and rotation counting. Each round, players receive a reference number representing target spinner rotations and strive to get as close as possible by making four spins. Scoring follows a bocce-like system focused on precision.
Initially, the game featured built-in displays, but to reduce costs, I came up with the idea to use players’ smartphones instead. The game’s microcontroller wirelessly transmits game data to up to eight nearby phones simultaneously.
Unexpectedly, this unconventional use of smartphones brought positive side effects. Instead of causing digital isolation, the phones became channels for shared attention and collective engagement for both players and spectators. Everyone was “in the same flow,” not distracted by social media but focused on the game together.
This created a “public gaze without judgment”: players make moves within a friendly audience that supports rather than competes. Social pressure diminishes, forming a safe “social field” akin to mindfulness groups and therapeutic practices.
The game rhythm—concentrated spin initiation followed by relaxed observation of spinner deceleration—activates brain regions responsible for focused attention and impulse control, while calming the nervous system. Repeating this cycle four times builds a rhythm comparable to breathing exercises, helping reduce anxiety.
Smartphones thus cease to be stressors or sources of addiction, becoming neutral elements of a shared ritual that eliminates guilt and competition for attention.
Therefore, this game is more than entertainment — it fosters a healthy digital coexistence micro-environment for groups of up to eight. It is especially well-suited for socially anxious people, introverts, and those overwhelmed by digital overload.
Combining gaming innovation with mindfulness principles, the project offers promising potential for psychogeriatric health and anxiety prevention in today’s fast-paced world.
