31-RainSphere

Inspiration

Our inspiration for RainSphere came from the desire to visualize the weather (we are coders, therefore we don’t know if the sun shines). We wanted to be able to experience weather conditions that aren't occurring. So, our app will simulate the future weather conditions of the location you're in. Furthermore, when the recent storms struck, one of my neighbor's garden’s was destroyed. She was devastated. Our app will allow her to see any potential conditions, and could have prevented such a disaster.

What it does

RainSphere is a weather app that uses augmented reality to display weather patterns and conditions in real time. Users can access personalized, location-specific forecasts that help them plan their day with confidence. With RainSphere, users can stay ahead of the weather and stay on top of their daily activities, no matter what the forecast brings.

How we built it

RainSphere was developed by utilizing the advanced capabilities of 8th Wall, a robust platform designed for crafting immersive AR experiences. In addition, we integrated the Sprite Weather API to collate up-to-date weather information. Our team proficiently employed a combination of JavaScript, HTML, and CSS programming languages to construct the app.

Challenges we ran into

Initially, we encountered some challenges with the 8th Wall AR technology, as our limited experience caused difficulty in activating the particle emitter function. Once we resolved the issue, the AR simulations were visually displayed as a gif superimposed on top of the screen. We also encountered difficulties in synchronizing the time zones of the user's location, as our API utilized GMT while the users were in PST. Furthermore, we encountered issues while testing the sky textures during the nighttime, as the AR system had difficulty discerning the sky while we were coding them from 12:00am to 3:00am.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We're incredibly proud of what we've accomplished with RainSphere, trying to use new Augmented Reality tech that we’ve never done before, and integrating it into an app that can be useful.

What we learned

Throughout the development process, we learned a lot about creating AR experiences and mobile web applications. This was our first time doing anything like this, and was way out of our comfort zone. We had to figure out how to use the 8th Wall codespace and make a UI for mobile applications. We used a particle system to simulate rain

What's next for RainSphere

As we continue to develop RainSphere, our team has a number of exciting plans to enhance the app's capabilities and offer users an even more engaging and interactive weather forecasting experience. One major area of focus will be expanding the app beyond just rain and incorporating additional weather conditions such as snow, hail, and thunderstorms. This will provide users with an even more comprehensive preview of future weather conditions and help them better prepare for any weather-related scenarios. In addition to expanding the range of weather conditions, we also plan to incorporate more user-friendly controls for adjusting the weather settings. Ultimately, our goal is to continue pushing the boundaries of what's possible with AR weather forecasting and deliver an app that's both informative and entertaining, providing users with a unique and engaging experience that they won't find anywhere else.