REMOTE

REMOTE

Inspiration

In a world where connectivity is a fundamental pillar of societal growth, we were inspired by the harsh reality that many remote communities remain isolated due to the lack of reliable telecommunications and basic infrastructure. From the fire signals of ancient China to the satellites orbiting the Earth today, we witnessed the huge role played by communication in improving education, country development, community cohesion and safety, which compelled us to create a solution that bridges this gap for remote areas.

Motivated by the hackathon's emphasis on sustainability and innovation, we set out to develop an Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network application for devices that connects individuals, ultimately empowering communities by providing a sustainable, affordable, and user-friendly platform that enhances local communication and lays the foundation for nationwide connectivity. Through this project, we aim to foster connectivity and improve living conditions for those in the most remote locations with improved access to basic human needs.

What it does

In areas where internet access is limited due to political restrictions or lack of infrastructure, a P2P network provides a vital communication tool that operates independently, allowing people to share information free from political restraints or technical difficulties. During crises or natural disasters that affect multiple regions, the platform also enables coordinated response efforts, transcending political divisions.

For example, Yangalia is a remote village located in the Central African Republic. It faces challenges due to its geographical isolation, limited infrastructure, political instability and poverty. The village’s narrow streets and the far distance from main cities make modern infrastructure development challenging, contributing to communication barriers among residents and with authorities.

By deploying a P2P network across Yangalia using affordable, solar-powered routers placed on rooftops and community centres, we can create a reliable platform that connects homes, schools, and healthcare facilities without relying on external internet access. We can also set up public devices, ensuring access for residents who may not own personal devices.

This not only allows residents to share information freely but also acts as a real-time alert system where local authorities or neighbours can broadcast urgent messages about security issues. It also improves people's healthcare by sharing important health-related information, including disease prevention tips, vaccination schedules, and alerts about disease outbreaks.

This design operates at a very low cost because it does not require a server, eliminating server setup and maintenance costs, and runs on renewable energy. Furthermore, by encouraging users to share local messages and information, we prevent external bandwidth costs.

The P2P network can also act as an online library that gives people access to a variety of educational materials like textbooks, research papers, and learning modules. The platform also enables real-time communication between teachers and students without requiring an internet connection, overcoming geographical barriers and facilitating student questions, feedback, and personalised support.

Another example is Phortse, a remote village situated in the Khumbu region of Nepal, surrounded by rugged mountains and deep valleys, and subject to harsh weather conditions like heavy snowfall. In such conditions, travelling even a few hundred metres can be very difficult. This is where our design becomes useful, allowing people to connect with each other and students to receive education within their homes without the need for an internet connection.

Therefore, this localised network can significantly enhance community cohesion and safety by providing residents with the tools to communicate effectively while preserving their cultural heritage, and collaborate on addressing common challenges while leveraging sustainable technology to overcome infrastructural limitations.

How we built it

We used Python 3.12 and socket library to connect the peer devices to a local area network (LAN). It allows users to recieve messages from all other peer devices in the same network and being able to broadcast their messages at any time.

Challenges we ran into and how can we solve it

Not everyone has an electronic device, which limits the effectiveness of enabling connectivity for these people. This issue can be addressed by providing shared devices at community access points and exploring affordable device programs. Furthermore, maintenance and technical support are also crucial, as the servers and devices may need upkeep or repair when damaged, especially in countries that are vulnerable to conflicts or harsh weather conditions. This can be solved by training local technicians to maintain the network, address technical issues, and provide information on repairs. Additionally, the lack of access to electricity can be mitigated by using solar panels.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

The prototype works smoothly without visible delay or lagging. Also, we tested the P2P connection to a mobile hotspot can be effective for at least 80 metres apart. We are also proud of the researching work we have done when defining the problem and designing the solution, and our concrete revision on our prototype after implementation and testing to see areas of improvement.

What we learned

Connectivity is a fundamental human need that can significantly impact living conditions in remote areas. Despite technology developments many remote areas around the world still lack reliable and efficient telecommunications due to its geographical locations, suffering from limited infrastructure, political restrictions and threat of conflicts. In order to address these challenges we proposed the development of a P2P network application for electric devices that connects individuals without relying on external internet access. By setting up a digital platform powered by renewable energy sources like solar panels, communicates can create a sustainable, affordable and user-friendly platform that enhances local communications and lays the foundation for national developments.

What's next for REMOTE

Stage 1: Villager-to-Villager The prototpye can only send and receive text messages. From our testing, there is a great potential that the latency is low and transfer speed is high. Therefore, in the future stages, we can enable some functions that requres a low latency and high speed, such as streaming or file sharing.

We are also interested in exploring the possibility of using a Ethernet cable instead of wireless connection to increase the connection range and transfer speed.

Stage 2: Village-to-Village

In the next stage, we are aiming to use devices that cover a wider range, such as a Wi-Fi router or a base station, so we can achieve communications across neighbour villages.

Stage 3: Villages-to-World

Beyond that, we can easily connect to the villages with Internet access as we have already built a subnet that connects villagers. As soon as the hotspotting device connects to the Internet, all peer devices can have access to the Internet.