Inspiration
We were inspired to create this application because we are aware of the profound negative impact that asthma has on adults and children in America. Having experienced severe asthma myself, I am aware of the shadow it can cast on one's life, and I would like to improve this quality of life for other asthma patients.
What it does
Essentially, we wanted to create a prototype of a potential solution that will better the lives of those suffering from asthma by giving them advice on how to deal with their symptoms. In the future, we hope that this project will include features that make it compatible with popular smart speakers and allow the patient to communicate with healthcare professionals and family members remotely.
How we built it
We built it through the web development platform, Glitch. Glitch allowed us to create code synchronously. Additionally, we employed HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to code this web application. When we were stuck, we used resources such as W3 Schools for some tips and tricks.
Challenges we ran into
Our team originally intended to create a ChatBot as part of the prototype, but we soon realized that this was too complicated for us. We decided to focus our efforts on creating the symptom checker. In the symptom checker, we ran into an obstacle when the image alignment was not working properly. After debugging, we realized that we had linked the wrong CSS file to the HTML. Additionally, it was difficult to program the results function because we had to account for different combinations of answers. Fortunately, we soon realized how to create and call the JavaScript functions for the four outputs we wanted to create. Furthermore, after conducting some cursory research, we created the most suitable combination of answers for four output tracks: mild symptoms, moderate symptoms, severe symptoms, and symptoms lacking specificity.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
We're proud that we remained level-headed in the face of obstacles and calmly searched for solutions. There were many moments of difficulty where we could have chosen to discontinue the project. However, we persevered and allowed our passion for medicine and technology to light a fire in our minds which could not be extinguished until we finished the project. Besides, this was the first hackathon experience for all of us, so we are simply proud to have participated!
What we learned
In terms of programming, we learned more about debugging and useful resources to use when problems crop up. We also learned how to apply our knowledge of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create a tangible application without any guidance which most of us had never done before. Beyond coding knowledge, we learned more about collaboration and effective time management. We are excited to apply these skills to future hackathons!
What's next for BreatheEasy
Our team has discussed expanding this project even after the hackathon ends. We feel that BreatheEasy has a real potential for impact. Specifically, we would like to explore the communication feature further. Additionally, it would be wonderful to contact physicians and scientists working with asthma and ask them to opt into the project. Through this partnership, we could ensure accurate advice and allow physicians to be included in the communication feature. After doing so, if BreatheEasy reaches a certain level of success, our team would look into how to make the web application compatible with smart speakers so that patients could receive communication through these speakers. All in all, developing this project further would allow us to maximize the positive impact that we have on asthma patients.
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