café

c = centralizing, a = actions, f = for, é = everyone. The ability to receive proper care for strokes is a privilege many can not afford --- café bridges this gap through education.

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Inspiration (???)

According to the World Health Organization, high-income countries have up to 70x more neurological professionals per 100,000 people compared to low- and middle- income countries. Of these, strokes are leading cause of death in America, despite being preventable. Furthermore, minority groups such as Black, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander adults are more likely to suffer from a stroke compared to White adults, where non-Hispanic Black adults have ~2x higher risk of their first stroke. Publications from the National Library of Medicine and organizations such as the World Stroke Organization-Lancet Neurology Commission have noted that culturally responsive approaches for stroke prevention must be explored, alongside spreading awareness about the symptoms of stroke---but this requires more research, funding, and time.

Furthermore, as of 2023, there only exists one free, user-centric app about stroke prevention (Stroke Riskometer) despite digital resources being noted as a strong avenue for stroke prevention and spreading educational awareness. Therefore, I created café.

What it does (!!!)

café, which stands for "centralizing actions for everyone," provides users with culturally responsive, interactive experience that teaches them how to identify a stroke. Additionally, if they have or know someone who has experienced a stroke, how to find a supportive community through memory café. The application includes a variety of character depictions of people who have experienced stroke(s) --- bridging the representation gap.

The user is provided statistics about strokes before testing their own identification skills. Users are asked to perform seemingly everyday tasks: do their favorite dance, listen to their loved one's favorite song, or laugh at the dinner table. However, with each of these tasks, the user looks for the signs of FAST - facial drooping/weakness, arm/leg weaker than the other, incoherent speech, and time efficiency. FAST allows people to quickly identify whether or not someone is having a stroke, allowing them to get help quickly, bettering the outcome. The user is informed of what FAST is in the context of their tasks. Then, the user is introduced to memory cafés, which are a way for people to build community while also recovering. The user is provided more facts about healthcare disparities and the importance of culturally relevant practice and education. Lastly, the user is provided a link to the Memory Café Directory, which locates all existing memory cafés.

How I built it ( ^-^)

I used Next.js/React/Typescript, Tailwind CSS, and motion. I opted for Next.js for its file-system based router, SEO (since, the goal of this application is to reach as many users as possible to spread awareness), and because I was making a frontend heavy application. I depended heavily on the Tailwind CSS documents and the motion library tutorials. I hosted the application on Vercel.

Challenges I ran into ( x_x )

The most major challenges I ran into were the silliest. I struggled rummaging through documentation and past projects for about 3 hours trying to figure out how to import a custom font, but luckily I received help from a mentor. Additionally, I spent a great amount of time trying to align "FAST" so that the letters lined up with one another.

Accomplishments that I'm proud of ( :D )

I am extremely proud of the creative direction I took with this project. This is my first independent hackathon project, and I can't believe I was able to finish it! I also hosted on Vercel for the first time, which went super smoothly. I conducted tons of research, was able to meet amazing new people, catch up with old friends, and overall, have a great time.

What I've learned (^U^ )

I learned that I have dramatically grown as a designer and developer! I am a lot more familiar with motion, which I am super excited to work with for future projects. Additionally, I have a much deeper understanding of the health disparities people face globally from conducting research for this project. Lastly, I learned the value of having an amazing support system, taking breaks when needed, and to have fun!

What's next for café ( ---> )

The creation of café's UI was made targeting the United States. However, health disparities regarding strokes exist globally. I would like to expand café to reach various different regions with their culture in mind. For features, I plan to implement character customization, where the user can create a character that resembles themself or their loved one(s)---enhancing the personal connectivity to the experience.

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