Focusmate - Virtual coworking for getting anything done

Focus mate has been the key to practicing music almost everyday. During the pandemic I don't know that I'd still be able to play my instrument without it. Thanks for building this tool. I use it for work as well. Using 25 min sessions to encourage movement between sessions so I don't hurt myself by having a desk job

my general comment is that with any updates *please* let's not forget Focusmate's commitment to inclusivity (I remember reading Tyler's manifesto after George Floyd, etc.). I say this in light of seeing ideas for "rating" one another, or using algorithm's to judge people's performance (directly or indirectly). I sometimes wonder what the gallery of the most favorited users on Focusmate look like - are they really a diverse-looking group (i.e., are these algorithm-led ideas helping us live up to the site's purpose - a platform for humans just showing up for humans?)

I think the new changes sound good! I have a few reservations about being automatically matched with favorites just because I have a few favorites I like to work with regularly and I don’t want all my sessions to be booked up with the same one or two favorites and then when other friends go to book sessions, I’m wholly unavailable.

I'm a huge fan of all the proposed updates! Especially "Matching Preferences 2.0". Like others have mentioned, there are so many ways to use Focusmate, and having a partner who is mostly aligned with how you're using the session really allows for peak productivity, as well as enjoyment. I was a member of a Focusmate facebook group and brought up my frustration at being matched with people who are not only late, but who don't even apologize for being late, and was met with so much negativity that I left the group! Yes, it's virtual, but the manners that are expected irl should not be erased because we're virtually meeting. Moreover, just because focusmate has a large neurodivergent population does not mean that neurotypical expectations on politeness should be rebuffed. I was really dissappointed in that interaction and made sure to 'snooze/ block' anyone who thought being tardy without apologies was okay.

What’s wrong with real coworkings?) I think people love coworkings because the atmosphere, vibes.

Can we have the option to allow a video setting that isn't mirrored? I want to see myself in the video as others see me, not as I see myself in the mirror. A+ product, only modern complaint is the number of 25s has reduced the number of 50s. However there are always compromises. We must be aware of feature bloat of course.

Love the product, absolutely five stars rating, a few suggestions on the features. 1. I would like to have HD video and faster connection speed features for paid users. 2. Maybe give the user the option to choose which language they would like their partners to speak. 3. I think the pairing system could be improved, like shorten the waiting period for each session to 5 or 10 minutes, and also improve the last-minute pairing success rate if possible. 4. Encouraging users to add more profile/picture/introduction to personal profile. 5. Resources for ADHD recovery approach? Medical/therapy suggestions maybe? I honestly hope anyone has ADHD can have access to this product. On the other hand, I kind of fear what the Focusmate will become with influx of users. Awesome products overall!

Yes please to Rematching 2.0 and Last Minute Booking, including booking a couple of minutes after the session started. It would minimise the number of people who go unmatched when their partner doesn't show up. Also just to second the suggestion to have three people in a session - this would be better than just "can't find you anyone". I first got into FM through Flown, which is a group-working equivalent (I don't use Flown at all anymore since they changed their model and went a bit weird) and it totally works being more than two people, 3-4 is fine.

I might be a bit late, but I'd be glad to throw in my 2c! Most of my issues are already being addressed, going by the comments. Here are a few extras, or ones that haven't got much attention so far: 1. Phone reminders/alerts/notifications of upcoming sessions. I sometimes miss my session because I forget about it and I'm not at my desk. If there is no Focusmate app, then SMS reminders would be good. (I don't add sessions to my calendar any more as it's too much admin work.) 2. Better calendar integration, ical feed 3. In session notifications of chat messages 4. Smaller increments in time slots - 5 minutes. I'm not completely sure about this. But the problem is that if my partner doesn't turn up, sometimes I sit and wait in a physical meeting room for 12 minutes for the next session to start. It's a waste of time. It's sometimes happened twice in a row, for a waste of 30 minutes.