Journey's End Travel Companion by Team 6

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  Team 6 Presentation Cover

Inspiration

We wanted to provide an idea that was most feasible for Journey's End to be able to do while thinking about how members of the program would be able to get the most out of it. Some of our inspiration drew some training modules we have done for classes ourselves, like Khan Academy, or virtual walking tours we took when touring colleges during Covid.

What it does

Our solution includes an interactive website with 4 prongs using a low-tech web platform that minimizes data usage, this website will include training module lessons, a help line, a VR guided tour of Buffalo, and map implementation. In understanding the problem, we focused on how we could navigate effectiveness, the language barrier, and optimize volunteer time. We did this in order to increase efficiency, training, ability for repeated learning, and more. The website includes these training modules that include pre-made videos on bus safety, etiquette, payment, and more. Further videos could also be made and uploaded with the ability to be translated. At the end of the training modules, there will be interactive activities and quizzes for the participants to test their knowledge and make sure they understand the system. The website also includes WETS, a Women Empowering Travel System to ensure a female buddy system and network. It also includes a travel checklist for preliminary travel needs as well as a help line. The live help line will be accessible for all members of the program for the first 90 days to call case workers or volunteers if in need, then be switched to a volunteer based system once they are out of the program. We also suggest creating a refugee-refugee mentor program using the data to match similar programmee profiles to make sure new members of the program get insight and access to firsthand experience and tips from those who have also gone through the program. Our map implementation is a guide to navigating using Google Maps and training on how to save routes (like to the grocery store or residency), bus routes, and favorite locations. The virtual reality self-guided walking tour of Buffalo will serve as an assist to the training modules to have refugees experience an online, less intimidating version of traveling in Buffalo. It will include key bus routes and locations along with AI assistance.

How we built it

We used Figma to create our mock website, Kapwing to translate our training module videos using AI into any language, and found Kuula as the basis for creating a virtual reality guided walking tour of Buffalo which would include key locations and bus routes as well as help to assimilate refugees into the culture. We then used Google Slides to present our project solution. We also used Google Maps to practice our route saving and favorite locations.

Challenges we ran into

Our biggest problem was expanding our minds to try to develop a solution to challenges we had not experience first hand. This includes-but is not limited to-things like cultural difference, prior unaccess to public transportation, or the language barrier. We also tried to make sure we weeded out the best communication that was coming at us through Discord and discern what would positively benefit our solution and team.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We believe the software we used for translating videos was successful and used AI in an innovative way. It also bridged the language barrier and even included languages that were not written and included additional subtitles for those that were. We are also proud of our Figma website organization. We think our multi-faceted solution having the capability to be implemented for other programs lends its hands to the broader implications of our solutions ability to positively impact the community.

What we learned

First off, we learned about cultural differences that we have never experience, like having no prior knowledge of how things like the bus system work-something we grew up knowing just from cultural learning. On the teamwork aspect of things, we learned about quick idea generation, communication, and being able to bridge the skills that we have independently acquired not only at our internships, but through our schooling and other jobs. The potential that all of us brought to the table was optimized by our communication, openness, and willingness to share our strengths and weaknesses with people we haven't met before; it required a kind of trust that we think we all benefited from.

What's next for Journey's End Travel Companion by Team 6

We believe that there are many adaptable opportunities for the solution we have proposed here. A similar website could be created for other training modules, or this website could be expanded to include more. Some examples of the training modules could include navigating grocery stores, cultural orientation and norms, setting up a bank account, enrolling in schools, and more. We also think this model could benefit other members of the community who also work with people who are from different cultures and require a sort of assimilation training and aid. We think that Jewish Family Services or the Buffalo City Schools could benefit from these kind of solutions. We also believe that this website is optimal because it can be added right onto the website and is cost effective in all platforms used. We believe it could be done in-house or with part-time help.

Built With

• figma
• google-maps
• google-slides
• kapwing
• kuula