u/Evening_Fee_4737

I’ve noticed a lot of people hesitate before sitting down or touching things in public lately.

Stuff like:

• transit seats
• gym benches
• airplane trays
• restaurant booths
• public waiting areas

Especially if:

• the seat looks damp
• stained
• dusty
• smells weird
• or just “feels dirty”

I’ve caught myself avoiding seats before because I didn’t want my clothes smelling after or sitting on something gross.

Curious if this is actually a common thing people think about or if most people genuinely don’t care.

Would you ever use something that helped identify cleaner vs dirtier public surfaces/seating areas, or is this too niche?

Am I the only one that feels stressed or anxious while commuting?

I’ve been thinking about building an app specifically for people who commute by bus/train/subway or even drive to work or school every day.

Not another maps app, but more of an AI commute companion that helps make commuting feel less stressful and mentally exhausting.

Some features that I am thinking about:

• wake-up alerts so you don’t miss your stop if you fall asleep
• calm/ambient audio for commuting with your headphones
• AI voice companion for reassurance or conversation
• “you’re still on the right route” notifications
• stress-free commute modes
• less crowded route suggestions
• emotional support/check-ins for anxious commuters
• commute updates without constantly checking maps

The main idea is basically:
making commuting feel calmer, safer, and less mentally draining all in one app.

I have been talking to some people who also feel this way and I found the common painpoints tend to be:

• people new to public transit
• socially anxious commuters
• exhausted workers/students
• people commuting alone late at night
• people who hate the stress of transit systems

Do you think something like this would actually be useful?

What would you personally want from an app like this?