ONLINE PARTICIPANTS

Spectar: Navigate the Digital World with Confidence — A tool to stay secure and in control.

Guiding our seniors through the murky waters of the internet, shielding them from phishy scams 🎣.

Inspiration

The inspiration for this project comes from my sweet elderly neighbor, who lives alone and away from their loved ones in a different state. A few months ago, they shared the story of losing all their savings to an online scam, leaving irreversible damage and taking away decades of hard work. Hearing about their struggle, as a kind hearted and trusting person trying to navigate the digital world all alone and without any close family support nearby, really impacted me. In turn, this motivated and inspired us to create a solution that helps elderly individuals stay safe, secure, and in control of their digital interactions. Our goal is to empower them to avoid scams, protect their hard earned money and privacy, as well as build confidence in the digital world.

Problem Statement

With technology rapidly becoming a part of everyday life, it's easy for some to feel left behind or out of place, especially older individuals navigating a digital world not built with them in mind. Many elderly individuals struggle to safely navigate digital systems making them vulnerable to scams, confusion, and targets for fraud, as they lack tools designed to warn, educate, and guide them in real time.

What it does

Spec (eyeglasses or spectacles) + t (to) + AR (augmented reality) = Spectar 👓🐟

Spectar is an augmented reality glasses interface designed to empower seniors by providing real-time scam detection, helpful training, and instant access to trusted support. From scanning suspicious content to teaching digital safety, Spectar helps older individuals stay connected, protected, and confident. The Spectar interface is paired with a thoughtfully designed pair of glasses, making safety and support accessible anytime, right before their eyes! It has a lightweight, practical design, and seamlessly integrates into the lives of elderly users.

Key Features:

• Spectar has Real Time Content Scanning and Alerts that scans what the user is currently viewing, to detect scams, fraud, or misleading content and delivers simple alerts with clear instructions.
• Guided Training Modules with interactive voice guided lessons where users can learn, practice, and build their confidence on how to recognize scams, red flags, and safely navigate digital interactions.
• Voice Assistant Support that is always available for users. SpectAR voice assistant offers help, guidance, clarification without the need for buttons or typing.
• Face Recognition that helps identify familiar people, allowing users to avoid impersonators and prevent unwanted or unfamiliar interactions.
• Accessibility Settings to ensure every user, regardless of their tech comfort level or any impairments/challenges they have, feels supported and in control from the very start.

Spectar Glasses that is paired with the interface, has a fashionable, yet lightweight and practical design. It features a camera which allows for content scanning, facial recognition, and real-time help from trusted individuals. There is also a small integrated speaker and microphone that enables voice-guided training and assistance, blending safety and everyday wear!

How we built it

We designed the Spectar interface using Figma, which facilitated efficient ideation, brainstorming, prototyping, and iteration, allowing us to rapidly bring our vision to life! The 3D model of the Spectar glasses was modeled with Autodesk, and brought to life on a live site using three.js.

Figjam board for user research

What's next for Spectar

We see Spectar expanding and going beyond just scam protection. With further development, Spectar can be become a comprehensive daily assistant. Ideas included but are not limited to:

• Detecting dangerous situations, for example, a user with dementia walking across a busy road and issuing alerts
• Assisting those with Alzheimer's by identifying familiar people through facial recognition and offering helpful context
• Step by step guidance for tasks such as grocery shopping or commuting
• Alerting family or caregivers if the user seems disoriented, lost, or inactive for extended periods

Built With

• autodesk
• figjam
• figma
• three.js