panorama

Panorama

Our project was born from the realization that navigating today's polarized news landscape is increasingly challenging. We wanted a tool that provides a clear, balanced view of important topics, helping users escape echo chambers by presenting sources from across the political spectrum.

What Inspired Us

We observed how easy it is to become insulated within specific media bubbles. Our inspiration stemmed from a desire to enhance informed decision-making by encouraging exposure to diverse political viewpoints. This led us to create a multi-partisan news aggregator that promotes transparency and balanced information.

How We Built It

We used React for our front-end, ensuring a clean, responsive, and intuitive user experience. Our backend is powered by Python's FastAPI, enabling rapid and efficient API development. We leveraged pplx Sonar to identify and collect relevant sources spanning different political perspectives. To scrape articles and gather essential metadata, we implemented Llama Index, streamlining the organization of content.

For user authentication and data persistence, including search histories and bookmarked articles, we integrated MongoDB. This allowed personalized experiences, enabling users to revisit topics and save content effortlessly.

Challenges Faced

One significant challenge was efficiently managing data retrieval from diverse sources while maintaining speed and accuracy. Another obstacle involved seamlessly integrating multiple APIs and ensuring coherent data flow between the front-end and back-end. Addressing privacy and security for user data, particularly search histories and bookmarks, was also essential.

Lessons Learned

We learned the importance of clear architecture planning, particularly when integrating diverse technologies like pplx Sonar and Llama Index. Handling user authentication and database management deepened our appreciation for robust security practices. Overall, this project highlighted the value of teamwork, clear communication, and agile development methods to overcome complex integration challenges.