logo for the webapp
logo for the General Motors Next Generation Infotainment app
Screenshot of the webapp
Screenshot of the GM NGI app
Screenshot of the GM NGI app
Reporting clowns one at a time

node-clowning-around

Helping monitor the growing clown epidemic by tracking sightings in GM vehicles

Inspiration

It is 2016 and the greatest problem facing Americans is not ebola or starvation... it is the rapidly growing clown epidemic. Hundreds of terrifying (probably murderous) clowns have been spotted across the country but there is no way to keep track of them or stay safe, until now.

What it does

This is an app designed for General Motors vehicle and the world wide web that allows users to report sightings of clowns and help make the world a safer place. These are updated in real time and your car will warn you if you are near any sightings.

How we built it

Our stack consisted of a JavaScript backend built on General Motors' 'Next Generation Infotainment' standard development kit with Firebase for database storage and real-time updates. Our mapping system utilizes various Google Maps APIs.

Challenges we ran into

Our biggest challenge was setting up the work environment with the General Motors sdk and learning to develop with this.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Starting with no idea how to use the General Motors sdk or many of the technologies we ended up using and building a fully functional and exciting project.

What we learned

We learned how to work on a more untraditional environment with the General Motors sdk as well as learned how to implement and bring together various technologies.

What's next for Node Clowining Around

Expanding our technologies into a mobile app to complete our ecosystem and allow even more people to get involved in the hunt for these clowns.

Built With

Submitted to

MHacks 8
- Winner Best Domain Name from Domain.com

Created by

I worked on the backend, configuring Firebase, adding all position coordinates and timestamps to Firebase and retrieving the data from Firebase, parsing the timestamp to remove unnecessary stuff and adding it to the danger message whenever the user comes close to a clown sighting.

Akhil Agrawal
I'm a sophomore in Computer Science at Purdue University. I'm in love with the hacking culture so I try to attend many hackathons.
I implemented the map using Google Maps API, front end of the application, developed and designed the website and web app by retrieving data using our Firebase database. Website can be found at http://node-clowning-around.azurewebsites.net or https://nodemoreclowns.org whichever one works first.

Dhruv Upadhyay
I helped with the design logistics (graphics, Google Maps API) and worked with the team to see what features would provide the best user experience and how the user would interact with the application.

Isabel Lien
designer & creator // (~˘▾˘)~
I created much of the backend, interfacing General Motors' "Next Generation Infotainment" sdk and its location services with Google's map technologies. Using this, I created a live tracking system that follows the driver's position and allows the driver to report sightings as well as the proximity warning system.

Anav Gagneja
Trying to change the world, one midterm at a time.