ASPEN

Take back your time, take on a new adventure.

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ASPEN

Take back your time, take on an adventure

Inspiration

In today’s fast-paced world, it's easy to get stuck in routines, making it hard to plan enriching experiences outside of daily responsibilities. Many people find it challenging to organize adventures due to limited time, overwhelming options, or the complexity of coordinating schedules with friends. Big Tech hires PhD psychologists to design apps that keep us hooked, stealing our time and attention. With ASPEN, we’re flipping the script—using the same techniques, like an intuitive UI, calendar integration, Tinder-like swiping, and gamification with confetti, to help users reclaim their time for good. ASPEN was born out of a desire to help people plan meaningful experiences, explore the world around them, and say “yes” to adventure.

What it does

Aspen is a React Native iOS app that integrates with your Google Calendar to identify your availability without compromising privacy. It suggests activities based on your schedule, preferences, and external factors like weather and traffic. Users can swipe to accept or decline suggested events, and if everyone involved agrees, the adventure is scheduled.

With a focus on privacy, ASPEN doesn't access details about your calendar events—only whether you're busy or free. The app’s recommendation engine ensures that adventures fit your schedule and preferences while allowing you to connect with friends to create shared experiences. A digital passport feature lets users track past activities, and the social good aspect encourages participation in community events like beach cleanups and tree planting.

How we built it

We developed Aspen using a React Native frontend and a Python FastAPI backend. The app uses the Google Calendar Freebusy API to assess user availability without viewing event specifics, keeping privacy at the forefront. Our backend connects to Supabase for data storage and uses a recommendation model to suggest events based on weather, traffic patterns, and user preferences. By aggregating data from external sources, Aspen intelligently recommends activities for users to explore based on real-time information.

Challenges we ran into

One of the biggest challenges was balancing privacy with usability. Many users are hesitant to share personal information, so we had to design a system that respects privacy while still offering meaningful suggestions. Integrating weather and traffic data with the recommendation model was complex, as these factors change dynamically and influence event relevance. We also encountered issues with OAuth authentication callbacks in the iOS app, which required troubleshooting to handle network requests securely.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of creating a seamless user experience that makes adventure planning easy and fun while prioritizing privacy. By integrating with Google Calendar in a non-intrusive way using Freebusy API, we’ve ensured that users feel comfortable using the app. Additionally, the recommendation model was a technical milestone, successfully integrating weather, traffic, and user data to suggest suitable events. Finally, the digital passport feature, which tracks user experiences, adds a unique social element to the app, helping users cherish memories of their adventures.

What we learned

Developing Aspen taught us a lot about privacy-centric design and the technical complexities of real-time data integration. Working with FastAPI and Supabase provided valuable insights into building a responsive, scalable backend. We also learned the importance of user-centered design when building features that involve personal data; it’s essential to create trust and transparency to foster user engagement. Through this project, we deepened our understanding of recommendation models and explored creative ways to help people find joy and connection in shared experiences.

What's next for ASPEN

Moving forward, we plan to expand ASPEN's recommendation capabilities by incorporating more event types and personalization options. We want to build a community aspect where users can share experiences, participate in local group activities, and discover new places together. Additionally, we're considering implementing features that sync with USC professors' research on outdoor activities' psychological benefits, encouraging users to make time for adventure. Our long-term vision is to make Aspen a go-to platform for anyone looking to enrich their lives with meaningful, accessible adventures.

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