Inspiration
After a period of time with fear and confusion around the world, we noticed that people started to produce masks and visors or offer food to those who fight with Coronavirus. We wanted to help these people contact each other easier so the idea that came up was a mobile application.
What it does
A problem that we identified during this pandemic crisis was communication between volunteers and vulnerable people. The best solution to contact and connect people is using a device that is all day long together with us. We wanted to use this advantage in order to create connections, offer help, and support communities all around the world.
The solution is based on Google Maps where users have the possibility to pin a location, together with a short description and contact details. Volunteers, organizations, or people in need can add notes in a single place and connect with each other. Using our search functionality, people can search and see existing notes, hence contact directly those people and offer help.
How does it work?
People have the possibility to create an account using Facebook or Google. Once they create it, they have more options:
a) If they know a vulnerable person that needs help, they can mark his/her location on the map together with contact details and a short description. Then, anyone can see it, and offer their help to that person, hence make a better day for everyone.
b) If they need medical equipment, medicines, food, masks, visiers, or any other products, they can add a pin with the location on the map. Other users can identify where there is a need for help and they can contact those persons.
c) People who voluntarily started to build masks, special equipment, or offer food for people directly involved in the COVID fight can easily find the places where their work is needed by checking the notes on the map. Other users that will need something can contact the providers much easier.
The more users will use the application, the greater impact it will make in people’s fight with the virus as they can all contribute and contact each other.
The demo video of the application: demo
How I built it
We can split the development procedure into multiple sub-tasks, each one based on his own purpose.
a) Design and UX
Each screen was created using the Gimp image editor. From here, one by one, each element exported as a PNG file and resized in order to be used on multiple screen resolutions.
b) Database and login services
The database used to save on the cloud user data and notes was Firebase Firestore. Saving data locally on the mobile device was done using the Android database called RoomDB. For login service, we used Firebase together with Facebook API and Google login.
c) Application implementation
The application is built for Android devices, using Android Studio, Kotlin, Google Maps.
Challenges I ran into
During our design and development process, we faced multiple technical challenges, but also some related to the legal and license domain.
a) Using for the first time Firebase Firestore.
b) Implementing Google and Facebook authentication and creating the right ssh keys.
c) Implementing Google Maps API
d) Defining a valid "Privacy Policy" page
e) Releasing the application and pushing it over international markets.
Accomplishments that I'm proud of
We are proud that we worked as a team, learned new skills, collaboration and helped each other, and also tried to contribute to getting out of this crisis together.
What I learned
We learned new technical skills like Google Maps, design tools, and privacy policy rules, but also social and collaboration skills like splitting the tasks based on the member's personal skills, communication, and project management. We also learned from our mentors how to created a business plan and a video for our idea. But most importantly, during this crisis time, we learned that there is no salvation in individual actions. We can overcome the current situation only by working together.
What's next for Be A Hero
a) Transport functionality
We would like to add a type of note through which users can offer their availability to transport the products using their bikes or other means of transport, to facilitate getting the products from the volunteers to those who need these products.
b) Improve search functionality
We want to enhance the search functionality by providing search by category of product and search by location.
c) Official news (under construction)
Using this mobile application, as future development, we can prepare the integration of official news channels provided by each country. This feature can help people to be informed and avoid fake news.
d) Inform people about risk areas (under construction)
Using Google Maps and help from each country's government, we can mark with red circles each infection risk area in order to prevent virus spread. If the application will run in the background, the user can be notified if he/she will enter or leave a risk area.
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