AhLian

Inspiration

Choosing the healthier option can be a daunting task in the face of aisles and aisle of food at the supermarket. There are so many alternatives, types, and flavours but so little time to understand their content. The 'Healthier Choice Symbol' identifies healthier choices, but with 2600 different food products sporting the symbol and a one-liner explanation:

How might we decide what is best for us?

What it does

AhLian is an integrated shopping list that educates you on healthier options in the supermarket.

Imagine this: It's time for your weekly marketing and you have a list of things to buy. With AhLian, you can get relevant information about your choices when you are at the aisle, so you can review your options right in front of you. This way, you can understand how these choices may improve your quality of life. She follows you on your journey around the supermarket, ticking off your list and reminding you of the remaining.

AhLian never tells you what to buy, rather she tells you how food items can support your lifestyle, so you can make that decision for yourself.

How we built it

AhLian is built with AngularJS Bootstrap framework for a fluid responsive front-end as well as Node.js and Cordova in the backend for product recommendation and indoor localization through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The user experience was designed to mirror existing shopping habits in a familiar and easy-to-use way while the user interface is minimal to avoid overloading the user with too much information.

Challenges we ran into

Setting up the BLE beacon on the Raspberry Pi 3 and the BLE modules on the app was challenging because of our unfamiliarity with such technology.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Getting the demo to work!

What we learned

We learned how BLE can be used for indoor localization and its potential limitations.

What's next for AhLian

Following the move for healthier diets, AhLian is poised to be your companion to a healthier life. Integrating your dietary needs, lifestyle, and preferences will help AhLian make better recommendations to you.

AhLian could also be integrated into trolleys and baskets for a seamless marketing experience.