PAEx: Team 5

Inspiration

Our app, PAEx, aims to bring the Pan-American Exposition back to life through static and live feed augmented reality. By utilizing hundreds of historic photos, we are creating a digital immersive experience that allows visitors to step back in time and explore the glory of the 1901 Exposition in Buffalo, NY. This innovative blend of technology and history offers a unique way to connect with the past, making history accessible and engaging for all.

What it does/How it's built

Our app incorporates two separate features using technology similar to Pokémon Go and Google Street View. The live feed augmented reality feature incentivizes exploration of Buffalo by allowing users to view the exposition's buildings through their camera in the context of Buffalo today. The static augmented reality map can also be used for users to explore the exposition's installments virtually from the comfort of their homes.

Challenges we ran into/Accomplishments that we're proud of

Throughout the development of our project, the main challenge we faced was balancing feasibility with innovation. Our goal was to push the boundaries of current AR technology while keeping the budget realistic.

To solve our problem, we met with Jayashree Ganesan and Adam Weiss to discuss the implementation of the app. In the end, we estimated the need for a grant of roughly $50,000 to hire two software developers and two "2D" graphic designers for eight weeks for our goals to be achieved while still remaining within the Buffalo History Museum's proposed budget.

What we learned

We discovered that everyone on our team had valuable ideas and insights that were crucial to developing the app. By working together and sharing these ideas, we took a more effective and well-rounded approach to the project.

What's next for PAEx

The app will have the potential to feature advertisements from local businesses and partner with Reddy Bike Share to show all bike locations using Live AR. It will also collaborate with restaurants within the community to offer themed experiences, such as "Pan-Am" ice cream. Additionally, the Buffalo History Museum will be able to partner with the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation (TRISF) and jointly apply for a grant to fund the project. In the future, this can be extended to include other features and exhibits within the museum.