Walk

Laurence Timms

About this app

Walk supports creative thinking through sound, gentle movement and minimal distraction.

Grounded in neuroscience research on the Default Mode Network and attention restoration, Walk creates conditions that encourage productive mind-wandering during walks.

FEATURES
- Five generative audio modules designed for long, contemplative walks
- Voice memo capture - tap to record thoughts without typing
- Pre-walk preparation with sensory prompts
- Pure black walking screen for minimal distraction
- Optional Do Not Disturb mode
- Research-based guide to walking for thinking

Walk is not a fitness app, meditation app, or productivity tracker. It's designed for one thing: supporting creative insight through walking.

No goals. No metrics. No socials. Just you, walking, thinking.

AUDIO MODULES
- Layered Oscillators - Warm, chorused drones with slow harmonic evolution
- Noise - Filtered pink and brown noise with organic natural variation
- Dense Ambient - Deep, immersive textures inspired by ambient music
- Near-Silence - Minimal presence for those who prefer quiet
- Natural Sounds - Rain, wind, or wave elements

All audio modules feature non-looping generative algorithms that evolve slowly over time. Very slow parameter changes (60-120 second time constants) ensure the sound supports rather than demands attention.

VOICE MEMOS
Single-tap recording during walks. All memos from one walk are saved to a single audio file. No typing required - capture thoughts without disrupting your flow. Playback, share, or prepare for transcription after your walk.

PRE-WALK PREPARATION
A gentle 10-second settling period before each walk begins. A random sensory prompt ("Notice three sounds", "Feel the air") encourages environmental awareness. Audio fades in gradually. Optional manual start.

WALKING SCREEN
Pure black background optimized for OLED displays. Minimal UI elements at very low opacity. Touch screen to briefly reveal controls. Designed to feel "off" even when on - minimal light pollution and distraction.

RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Walk implements principles from:
- Default Mode Network research (Marcus Raichle) - The brain network associated with creative insight, active during rest and mind-wandering
- Focused and diffuse thinking (Barbara Oakley) - Pre-walk preparation supports switching from focused to diffuse thinking mode
- Unconscious thought theory (Ap Dijksterhuis) - Walking provides incubation time for creative problem-solving
- Walking and creativity studies (Stanford University) - Research showing walking enhances creative thinking
- Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan & Kaplan) - Natural sounds provide "soft fascination" that supports mental restoration

The app includes a brief research-based guide explaining optimal conditions for creative thinking during walks: environment, pace, and optional pre/post-walk practices. But don't stress about perfect conditions - any walk is better than no walk.

WHAT WALK IS NOT
Walk does not track fitness, count calories, or measure performance. It doesn't provide guided meditation or therapeutic interventions. It doesn't gamify walking or create achievement systems.

Walk is a tool for thinking. It supports the mental state associated with creative insights - the kind of thinking that typically happens during long walks, showers, or just before sleep.

PERMISSIONS
Walk requests only necessary permissions:
- Microphone - For voice memo recording only
- Notification policy - For optional Do Not Disturb mode
- Foreground service - To continue audio when screen is locked
- Post notifications - For walking session notification

Your data stays on your device. No analytics. No tracking. No cloud sync. No third-party sharing.

PRIVACY
Walk collects no personal data. Voice memos and walking summaries are stored locally on your device only. Nothing is transmitted to external servers. You can delete any data at any time.

VERSION 1.0
This is the initial release. Feedback welcome.

What’s new

Latest version features light+dark modes and option for more information on screen during your walk.