ContextLens

Inspiration

Online communication increasingly relies on tone, slang, and implied meaning, which can be difficult to interpret in text-based environments. Research suggests that the rapid evolution of digital language has left neurodivergent individuals struggling to adapt to online interactions, as “the exacerbation of the evolution of language…has potentially left neurodivergent individuals scrambling for a means to adjust to the linguistic drawbacks of purely online interactions.” Additionally, issues with communication clarity and anxiety surrounding digital communication, especially with seniors, further motivated us to create a tool that supports clearer and more inclusive online conversations.

What it does

ContextLens is an AI-powered accessibility web application designed to reduce miscommunication in online interactions. It allows users to decode messages by explaining inferred tone, slang, abbreviations, and implied meaning. It also enables users to rewrite their own messages into a chosen tone while preserving their original intent, ensuring that users remain in full control of how they are represented.

How we built it

We built ContextLens as a web-based application using AI language processing to analyze tone, context, and linguistic cues in user-provided text or voice input. Accessibility and simplicity guided our design decisions, thus the application includes voice input support and a calming visual contrast to reduce eye strain and anxiety.

Challenges we ran into

One of our main challenges was ensuring that the system did not alter or misrepresent the user’s intent. Balancing helpful contextual interpretation while avoiding judgment or over-correction required careful consideration. Designing a solution that supports a diverse range of users while remaining simple and intuitive was also a significant challenge. In addition, we faced some challenges during our preliminary planning wherein we tried to find a balance between all of the features we wished to include and a website that was simple and focused enough to help solve our targeted problem.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are proud of creating a tool that prioritizes accessibility without compromising user autonomy. ContextLens supports users in understanding and expressing themselves without putting words in their mouth.

What we learned

Through this project, we learned how easily digital communication can exclude individuals when tone and context are unclear. We also gained insight into the importance of designing AI systems that empower users rather than speak for them, especially in accessibility-focused applications. In addition, we learned a lot about the relevant softwares and tools we used during the Hackathon, such as Copilot, VS code, GitHub, Gemini, and more!

What's next for ContextLens

In the future, we plan to implement ContextLens as a browser extension so users can access support directly within emails, messaging platforms, and social media. We also hope to expand tone customization options and introduce multilingual support to reach an even broader audience. We hope ContextLens can be a useful tool in making technology more accessible!