100 Years Today

require 'teamwork' require 'motivation' require 'a-team-all-nighter' require 'new-friends'

Inspiration

We had recently been reading more into environmental activism and ways we could practice sustainability in our daily lives. When discussing ideas for the project, we also realized that during the COVID-19 pandemic we had all felt very powerless at some point, and wanted to be able to create a tangible impact towards the causes we care about. This was where the idea for 100 Years Today came from - we wanted to build an app that would make being eco-friendly more manageable, while giving us a sense of empowerment and connectivity.

What it does

100 Years Today gamifies going green by combining AR elements with a time travelling storyline. Players complete eco-missions and log their daily habits to progress through the levels, unlocking new elements as they go.

How I built it

With the help of YouTube and many other resources, we combined Unity with EchoAR to allow AR to stream seamlessly from the click of a button. To connect all of our inanimate objects, we wrote scripts in C# and assigned them to our stylish buttons. Much of the app development was in its creative aspect as we tried to mimic our Figma design as closely as possible.

Challenges I ran into

The biggest challenge for us was learning how to use Unity, and getting used to working remotely as a team of 5. It was difficult deciding what our best platform would be, creating a feasible plan for a working app, and brainstorming an idea that we could all feel passionate towards.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

We're proud of how detailed our wireframe ended up being, and how cohesive the theme is. We were very pleased with the outcome of the app as we envisioned it having a futuristic feel. We're also proud of our final project as we faced many technological roadblocks along the way, leading us to believe we wouldn't be able to get a working app started. Lastly, we are proud of our collaboration as a team, as we worked cross-functionally and strained our brains until the last hour.

What I learned

This hack-a-thon was a first for many of us. As a developer, I personally gained a lot of insight into app development which I have never tried before, and an exposure to wire-framing and UI design. We all learned to work with people we have never met before, in a circumstance where meeting up was not an available option. We definitely overcame obstacles in terms of communication and project management. It was important that we were clear on our responsibilities and expectations for the project. We were all new to VR/AR technology which was an exciting feature of this hack-a-thon, and for some of us, our first time learning the difference between the two. (/path/to/laughing-emoji.png)

What's next for 100 Years Today

When we someday have the resources to do so, we would like to implement the AR functionality to allow the user to explore an immersive in-app AR experience with realistic imagery that will create an impact. We would also add a point based rewards system so that users can reach higher levels, more challenging goals, and unique achievements. In addition, we would create a social experience for friends to connect, share their goals and updates, and compete in games. This could become more than just a tracking app, but a social network that incorporates AR/gaming as well as being a source of information and motivation towards our global crisis.

puts "Thanks for a great hackathon EchoAR x TOHacks!"