a BSD's hackaton team

Inspiration

As I walk the streets, I see people with various disabilities, including those in wheelchairs and those with no legs who have to pull carts.

One of the most common problems they face is obstacles blocking their path.

What it does?

This product is an application that receives reports of obstacles, saves the locations of obstacles, and provides guidance to help people with disabilities avoid obstacles when navigating.

How we built it

First, the front-end was created using React Native, and the back-end was created using Python FastAPI. In addition, the map API was created using Google API, the DB was SQLite, and the design was done using Figma.

Challenges we ran into

First, due to the lack of time, the implementation and design of functions were continuously modified, and only the core functions were extracted and created. Second, it took a lot of time because there were difficulties in selecting topics. Third, the lack of data on people with disabilities caused a lot of time spent on researching the materials.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

In this hackathon, we implemented a platform that maps the physical obstacles people with disabilities face in their daily lives. I believe our greatest achievement was that we prioritized accessibility as a core issue, not just a side feature, and designed a structure to address it. We built a participatory system that allowed users to directly report obstacles like stairs, lack of ramps, and narrow doorways, thereby laying the foundation for accumulating practical data. Furthermore, I'm most proud of completing the entire process—from problem definition to planning, design, development, and presentation—within a limited timeframe, resulting in a working prototype. Without this hackathon, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to collaborate on this project, and it's truly rewarding to have created a complete product together.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned that accessibility isn't an optional convenience, but a fundamental right. We also realized that just because we don't experience inconvenience doesn't mean the problem doesn't exist. Technically, we learned how to utilize map APIs, design data structures, and the importance of role division and communication in team collaboration. In particular, we learned the importance of user-centered design, which defines and solves problems from the perspective of specific users.

What's next for a BSD's hackaton team

Through this project, our BSD Hackathon team firsthand experienced the potential of technology to solve social problems. While we still have many shortcomings, I believe this experience taught us the importance of perspective and collaboration.

Going forward, we plan to continue to identify and address often overlooked inconveniences in our surroundings through technological solutions. Rather than aiming to achieve grand goals overnight, our goal is to grow as a team that seriously considers and solves even the smallest problems.

Furthermore, we will strive to develop not only our development capabilities but also our planning and communication skills, enabling each team member to create even more complete projects.