PawPaw

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Research Articles
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Inspiration

The inspiration for PawPaw came from the realization that college students often struggle with mental health challenges, and the proven effectiveness of therapy animals in reducing loneliness and enhancing happiness. By harnessing the power of feline affection, PawPaw was born with a mission to improve the mental well-being of college students.

What it does

PawPaw is a platform that connects college students with comforting therapy cats. It offers a unique and effective solution to mental health challenges. The platform uses advanced natural language processing algorithms and Google API to provide users with the latest news and events about therapy animals in their area. Users can also filter therapy cats by color and age group to find the perfect match for short-term fostering.

How I built it

PawPaw was built using a search engine powered by Google API for information retrieval and a recommendation system that filters therapy cats based on user preferences. The frontend features Joggle CSS to mimic the adorable dancing movements of a cat, creating a user-friendly and engaging experience.

Challenges I ran into

Some challenges faced during the development of PawPaw included optimizing the recommendation system and ensuring the information retrieval engine remains up-to-date with the latest news and events. As this project was completed solo within a limited timeframe, the code may not be clean.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of

I'm so proud of creating a platform that not only connects college students with therapy cats but also raises awareness about the benefits of therapy animals in various situations. Also, I'm proud of the user-friendly design and features of the website, making it easy for users to find the perfect therapy cat for their needs.

What I learned

Through the development of PawPaw, I learned the importance of user experience, the power of therapy animals in mental health support, and the potential of technology to create positive change.

What's next for PawPaw

In the future, I plan to further optimize the recommendation system and improve the information retrieval engine. I will also reach out to animal adoption centers to see if PawPaw can be put into practical use, extending its impact on college students' mental well-being.