LocalEyes

Discover and support with the 400 million local businesses around the world for both a healthy economy and a healthy planet - hyper personalized to every user, while getting rewarded for it! 💹🌎

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Inspiration:

The inspiration behind our project, LocalEyes, stems from a deep desire to encourage people to explore their local communities. Research shows that people tend to frequent the same places and get stuck in their routines, missing out on all the hidden gems in their neighborhood. In fact, a recent survey found that 36% of Americans have not explored much of their local area. This is where LocalEyes comes in. Our web application is designed to help users discover new places to explore based on their location, interests, and accessibility needs.

We wanted to create an experience that was both fun and educational. By providing users with location-based quizzes that are generated using Cohere.ai, we hope to increase their knowledge and appreciation of the places they visit. Studies have shown that quizzes can be an effective tool for learning and retention, and we believe that our approach can be particularly engaging because the questions are tailored to the user's current location.

In addition to promoting exploration and education, we wanted to create a platform that was accessible and inclusive. That's why we are currently working on adding a filter for wheelchair-accessible locations, and why we display reviews from Google, so users can make informed decisions about where to go.

The numbers speak for themselves: 77% of consumers prefer to shop locally, and 65% of people feel more connected to their community when they buy from local businesses. By helping users discover new places to visit, we hope to support local businesses and promote a sense of community.

What it Does:

Local Eyes is a revolutionary web application that encourages users to explore their community by providing them with a comprehensive list of nearby locations. The app allows users to filter locations by type and rank them based on proximity. Users are then incentivized to explore these locations by being awarded coupons and earning points for every location they visit, which can be used to unlock badges and cosmetics. But that's not all; once a user gets within 1km of a location, the app automatically generates a quiz about the place, featuring contextually relevant questions related to the history, significance, or educational resources of the location. With Cohere.ai, the AI can generate unique and engaging questions for each location, which users can answer to earn additional points. The app also provides a map using Mapbox to help users navigate and find their way to the location. Plus, users can view reviews from Google to help them decide which locations are worth exploring. For users with accessibility needs, Local Eyes has an additional filter that only shows wheelchair-accessible places. With its intuitive and user-friendly interface, Local Eyes is the perfect tool for anyone looking to explore their community and learn more about the places around them while getting rewarded for it.

How we Built It:

LocalEyes is an innovative web application that aims to help users explore and discover their community by providing them with relevant and exciting locations to visit. Our team worked tirelessly to develop a system that allows users to filter places by type, rank them based on proximity, and re-rank them based on live GPS location. We implemented advanced features such as quizzes generated by Cohere.ai, which generate questions related to the location a user is visiting, and award points for every correct answer. We believe that this feature will not only enhance the user experience but also promote learning and education.

Our development process involved several tools and resources, including SvelteKit, DaisyUI, TailwindCSS, and Mapbox for the frontend, and Fastify, JWT, JSONSchema, MongoDB, and Swagger for the backend. We chose these tools because they are reliable, efficient, and help us to build a scalable and secure system.

The backend of LocalEyes uses JWT authentication to ensure that all user data is secure. We store both user data and location data in a MongoDB database, which allows us to take advantage of its built-in GeoJSON capabilities, which simplify the process of storing and querying spatial data. We also use the Google Places API to fetch location information and reviews from Google.

One of the most exciting features of LocalEyes is the location-based quizzes generated by Cohere.ai. Using the Cohere.Generate endpoint, we can generate unique and contextually relevant questions related to the location a user is visiting. These questions can range from the history of the place to educational resources available in the area. This feature encourages users to learn more about the locations they visit while earning additional points for every correct answer.

To provide users with an easy-to-use interface, we leveraged the power of Mapbox to create a map that shows users where the place is located, along with their live location and current distance from the destination. We also implemented a filter for users who need accessible locations that only shows places with wheelchair access.

Challenges we Ran Into:

Our team faced numerous challenges while developing the LocalEyes web application during the Exploration-themed hackathon. One of the biggest challenges was developing the location-based quizzes, which would be automatically generated when a user arrives at a specific place. To overcome this challenge, we leveraged the power of Cohere.ai, an AI-powered natural language processing tool, which enabled us to generate unique and contextually relevant questions for each location.

Another significant challenge was integrating the various tools and resources we used for the project, including SvelteKit, DaisyUI, TailwindCSS, Mapbox, Fastify, JWT, JSONSchema, MongoDB, Google Places API, and Swagger. It required extensive effort to ensure that these tools worked together seamlessly to create a user-friendly and intuitive web application.

We also faced difficulties in developing a filter that would only show accessible locations for users with disabilities. Although this feature was not completed during the hackathon, we remain committed to providing an inclusive and accessible experience for all users.

Despite these challenges, our team remained dedicated and focused on creating a high-quality web application that would enable users to explore their community and earn rewards. We are proud of our achievement and look forward to continuing to improve and enhance the LocalEyes platform.

Accomplishments that we're Proud Of:

Our team is incredibly proud of our web application, LocalEyes, and the impact it can have on local communities. Our app allows users to easily explore and discover new places in their area, earning points and rewards along the way. Even more exciting is the location-based quiz feature, which uses Cohere.ai to generate unique and relevant questions for each location. This feature adds an educational aspect to the app and encourages users to learn more about the places they visit.

What's truly remarkable is that many members of our team had little to no experience using some of the programming languages and tools we utilized, such as SvelteKit and Cohere.ai. Despite this, we were able to come together and create a functional and polished app that we are proud to share with the world.

LocalEyes has the potential to make a positive impact on everyone in the community, from families looking for a fun weekend activity to individuals with disabilities searching for accessible locations. With our wheelchair access filter (coming soon) and the ability to provide context and education about each location, we hope to create a more inclusive and informed community.

Overall, our team is excited about the accomplishments we've made with LocalEyes and the potential it has to bring people together and foster a greater sense of exploration and discovery in our local communities.

What we Learned:

Throughout the hackathon, we learned a lot about the power of Cohere.ai, which played a crucial role in generating unique and relevant quiz questions based on the user's location. Cohere.ai made it easy for us to integrate AI capabilities into our project, allowing us to provide a more personalized and engaging experience for users.

The project was a culmination of the strengths and skills each team member brought to the table. We had some members who were proficient in front-end development, while others excelled in back-end development. We also had members who were skilled in API integration, map design, and authentication. Together, we worked cohesively to develop LocalEyes, which was a testament to our teamwork and collaboration.

As with any project, there were obstacles and challenges that we had to overcome. However, we didn't give up and persevered through every difficulty. Our hard work paid off as we developed a project that we were all proud of. We gained a lot of skills in the process, such as improving our communication, learning how to work under pressure, and sharpening our problem-solving abilities.

Overall, our team learned a lot from this hackathon, particularly about the potential of AI and how it can be integrated into real-world applications. The skills we developed and the strengths we exhibited during the project have allowed us to develop a great product that we believe has the potential to benefit many people. We look forward to exploring more possibilities and developing even better solutions in the future.

What's Next for LocalEyes:

LocalEyes is a fascinating web application that encourages users to explore their local community and discover interesting places. With its innovative use of live GPS location and the ability to generate quizzes based on a location, this app has the potential to transform how we interact with our surroundings. But what's next for LocalEyes? How can it be improved and made even more interactive?

One way to take LocalEyes to the next level would be to incorporate augmented reality technology. Imagine being able to point your smartphone at a location and instantly see information about it overlaid on the real world. With AR, users could learn more about a place without even having to physically visit it. This could also open up new possibilities for location-based quizzes, with questions that require users to interact with their surroundings in creative ways.

Another way to improve LocalEyes would be to incorporate social features. Users could form groups and compete with each other to see who can earn the most points or visit the most places. They could share their experiences and recommendations with each other, creating a sense of community and encouraging more exploration. Additionally, users could be given the ability to create their own quizzes and share them with others, adding a collaborative and educational element to the app.

Finally, LocalEyes could be made even more accessible by incorporating more filters and features for users with specific needs. For example, users could filter places by whether they have child-friendly facilities or pet-friendly policies. Additionally, LocalEyes could partner with accessibility organizations to ensure that all locations are accurately marked as accessible and provide detailed information about the accessibility features available.

In conclusion, LocalEyes is already an impressive application that encourages users to explore and learn about their local community. But by incorporating AR technology, social features, and accessibility options, LocalEyes could become an even more interactive and engaging platform for users to connect with their surroundings and each other.

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