Skeptic-proof FAQ

The assessment measures when attention starts slipping, not how long you can white-knuckle through.

The 36-minute assessment uses three progressive blocks (8, 12, and 16 minutes) to efficiently identify your failure onset — the point where attention begins to drift. This isn't a test of willpower.

Research on sustained attention shows performance declines during ongoing attention demands (vigilance decrement). The progressive structure provides enough data to identify your threshold without excessive fatigue. Early drift is signal, not failure — it tells us where your sustainable capacity actually sits.

Self-estimates are often miscalibrated; Vector combines behavioral measurement with fast reflection to improve accuracy and learning.

People tend to overestimate or underestimate their focus capacity. Vector measures what actually happens (timed blocks) and pairs it with brief reflection (what broke focus and why). This dual approach improves both measurement accuracy and your ability to recognize patterns.

The reflection is intentionally brief — 10–15 seconds per block — enough to capture signal without turning this into a journaling app. This is grounded in metacognition research: rapid, immediate monitoring improves self-regulation without burden.

Pomodoro provides fixed structure; Vector provides adaptive structure that adjusts block length, break type, and coaching based on your actual outcomes.

If a 25-minute Pomodoro block fails repeatedly, Pomodoro repeats it anyway. Vector adapts:

• Block length adjusts if you consistently finish early or drift early
• Break type changes based on what helps you recover
• Coaching prompts adapt to patterns in your reflections

This is the difference between a timer and a training system. Vector learns what works for you and adjusts the next session accordingly.

Vector applies well-established research principles; the novelty is integrating them into a fast, repeatable product loop.

Vector draws from sustained attention research, cognitive load theory, adaptive testing, and self-regulated learning — all well-established fields. The innovation is combining these into a system that's fast enough to use daily and adaptive enough to improve over time.

Vector does not claim to diagnose or treat medical conditions. It applies research-backed principles to help you train your focus capacity, similar to how a fitness app applies exercise science to help you train your physical capacity.

Music can help regulate state, but state isn't the same as capacity; improvement comes from the training loop, not just background sounds.

Background sounds can help mask distractions and regulate your mental state. But state regulation (feeling focused) is different from capacity building (sustaining attention longer over time).

The improvement mechanism is the training loop: appropriate load, immediate feedback, and adaptation.

Vector turns your baseline into a safe starting plan, then adapts block length, break type, and coaching based on your actual performance over time.

After the assessment, Vector creates a starting plan (typically 3 blocks × your baseline minutes). Then it adapts:

• If you consistently finish blocks early, it may suggest slightly longer blocks
• If you drift early, it shortens blocks and adjusts break types
• Coaching prompts evolve based on patterns in your reflections

This aligns with just-in-time adaptive intervention concepts: the system evolves as your context and history evolve. The assessment is calibration, not evaluation — it's a starting point, not a gate.

Vector does not diagnose or treat medical conditions, but many of its strategies align with evidence-based attention regulation approaches.

Vector is not a medical device or treatment. It does not diagnose ADHD or any medical condition. However, many strategies Vector uses — shorter blocks, early failure detection, rapid reflection, and adaptive pacing — are broadly aligned with evidence-based attention regulation approaches.

If you're seeking medical guidance or treatment for attention-related conditions, Vector should complement (not replace) professional care. Think of it like a fitness app: it can help you train, but it doesn't replace a doctor.

Only what's needed to personalize training: mode, task label, block outcomes, and brief reflection signals — all stored locally on your device.

The assessment collects: your selected mode (deep work, creative, etc.), task label, block outcomes (completed early, on time, or drifted), focus rating (1–5), outcome vs intent, and a failure trigger tag (if applicable).

All data is stored locally on your device, encrypted by default. Vector cannot read your goals, notes, or reflections. You can export or delete everything at any time.

The assessment is optional — it accelerates personalization, but you can start training sessions without it.

The assessment helps Vector calibrate faster by establishing your baseline focus capacity. But it's not required. You can start training sessions immediately and Vector will learn your capacity over time from your session outcomes.

Think of it like a fitness assessment: helpful for personalized training, but you can still work out without it. The assessment is calibration, not evaluation — it's about finding a safe starting load, not proving anything.