Young Heroes

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911 Simulation
Skills Platform
911 Simulation Architecture
Learning Scenario Architecture

Inspiration

Emergencies occur daily, whether it's a house fire, or someone needing immediate medical support. Everyone must know how to identify and communicate effectively with 911 to ensure timely assistance. However, according to the 2021 study, 50% of parents have discussed emergency procedures with their children, and only 34% have demonstrated how to call 911 effectively. Additionally, the study found that among children under 10 years old, 50% can recognize an emergency, and just 20% of the children know what to say when calling 911. These numbers highlight the urgent need to address this problem, as every piece of information matters during emergencies. With the right knowledge, anyone can be a hero by effectively communicating with 911.

What it does

Young Heroes is the world's first mobile app designed to create a safe and accessible space for children aged 4 to 12. It empowers kids to recognize critical situations and communicate effectively with 911 when needed. The app offers an end-to-end simulation where kids can interactively communicate with a 911 dispatcher in real-time using generative AI, providing realistic practice and learning experiences unmatched by other platforms. For those lacking confidence or unaware of how and when to call, Young Heroes also presents realistic scenarios generated by GenAI, complete with multimedia elements like voice, text, and pictures. This allows children to experience real-life situations and learn to make timely decisions about calling 911. Additionally, the app features a user-friendly assessment to ensure they are fully equipped with the necessary knowledge.

How we built it

Front-End:

React JavaScript to create a responsive and dynamic user interface
Designed an engaging and intuitive UI/UX using Figma
TailwindCSS for efficient and customizable styling
Integrated simulated voice call functionality to enable interactive learning through real-time communication experiences

Backend:

Python
Flask for a full backend server to host LLM and other server-side logic
Claude 3.5 Sonnet with custom instructions and prompt engineering for a safe, accessible and simple assistant
Whisper for efficient, multilingual, and fast text-to-speech and speech-to-text translations.

Architecture

911 Simulation: 911 Simulation Architecture

Learning Scenario:

Learning Scenario Architecture

Challenges we ran into

Back-End Challenges:

First experience with an audio model.
Complexity in implementing a simulated voice call and managing API call speed.
Crafting effective prompt engineering while ensuring communication safety.

Front-End Challenges:

First time using Figma for design.
Integrating voice call simulation into the chat interface to create a smooth, interactive experience.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Successfully created an app that prepares kids to handle 911 emergencies effectively.
Implemented simulated voice calls to teach children how to communicate during emergencies.
Designed an intuitive and user-friendly UI/UX tailored for younger audiences.
Developed a step-by-step learning process that simplifies emergency response for kids.
Ensured seamless integration between voice call functionality and visual elements to simulate real-life scenarios.
Empowered children with the confidence and knowledge needed to act in critical situations.

What we learned

Through this project, we gained valuable insights into creating technology that can make a real difference. By building an app designed to empower and prepare children for handling 911 emergencies, we learned the importance of intuitive user experiences for younger audiences. The simulated voice call feature taught us how to integrate real-time communication tools that help kids understand how to identify an emergency, dial 911, and communicate clearly.

We also deepened our understanding of how to break down complex concepts into simple, interactive steps, ensuring children can easily grasp and retain vital emergency response skills. Overall, this experience reinforced how technology can be a powerful tool for education and safety, equipping children with the confidence to act in critical situations.

What's next for Young Heroes

In the future, we aim to expand the impact of the Young Heroes app even further. Our goal is not only to reach every child in America but also, through globalization, to make the app accessible to children worldwide, overcoming language barriers. To achieve this, we plan to incorporate support for multiple languages in our dataset and model and address any challenges that may arise along the way.