Just Wash

Introducing Just Wash: Making Handwashing Fun, Clean, and Memorable 🧼✨

At UTRA Hacks 2025, we took on a common yet crucial issue: proper handwashing. Sure, it’s one of the most effective ways to keep illnesses at bay, but let’s face it—most people don’t scrub long enough or well enough. Signs and reminders only go so far. That’s why we created Just Wash—a hands-on (and hands-in!) experience that turns hand hygiene into a fun, interactive game. With real-time AI feedback, glowing soap validation, and plenty of encouragement, we’ve transformed the simple act of washing hands into something enjoyable and educational. 🕺🧴

Inspiration Behind Just Wash 🏫🦠

It’s no secret that hand hygiene often gets overlooked. Walk into any school restroom, and you’ll see it—kids splashing water on their hands for about two seconds before running back to class. It’s not their fault; many of them were never taught how to wash properly. Then there’s flu season, when sniffles spread like wildfire, or the memories of the COVID-19 pandemic, when everyone suddenly realized how crucial clean hands could be. And of course, we all know that one person—let’s call him Joe—who uses the restroom, makes eye contact with the sink, and walks straight out. 😬🚪💨

These are the moments that inspired us. We wanted to create something that wasn’t just a reminder, but an experience. A fun, engaging, and educational way to show people the right way to wash their hands. Because if we can help the “school Joe” learn to scrub a little better, maybe we can make our communities a little healthier. 👩‍🏫✋✨

What Just Wash Does 🖐️✨

Think of Just Wash as your personal handwashing coach. It uses computer vision, smart sensors, and playful gamification to teach proper handwashing techniques. By analyzing hand movements, ensuring soap coverage, and providing instant feedback, Just Wash makes sure you’re not just going through the motions but actually washing your hands the right way. It’s all about making clean hands cool again. 😎💧

How We Built It 🛠️🧼

AI-Powered Scoring and Smooth Moves 🖐️📹 The heart of Just Wash is our computer vision model powered by OpenCV. The camera (mounted to a Raspberry Pi) tracks key hand joints, analyzing their movements in real-time. It checks if you’re rubbing your palms, cleaning between fingers, and giving your thumbs the love they deserve—all while ensuring you spend enough time on each step. Basically, it makes sure you’re not just winging it, but washing like a pro. 💪🧼

Smap, Smarter Sensors 🌟🧴

Our ultra-sonic sensor adds a splash of tech to the mix. It ensures soap is actually dispensed—no shortcuts allowed! And here’s the fun twist: we use a special UV-reactive soap. Wart Sohen you’re done scrubbing, just place your hands under a UV light. If your hands glow like a sci-fi prop, you’ll know the soap got everywhere it needed to go. Pretty cool, huh? 🌌🖐️

Press, Wash, Score 🚦🎮

Start by hitting a button. LEDs guide you step-by-step, flashing green when you’re nailing it or red when you need to step up your scrubbing game. Finish up, press “Stop,” and see your score. Simple. Interactive. Fun. It’s like a mini-game in your sink. 🟢🔴🚿

Next-Level Fun and Feedback 🎮🚀

Our Next.js-powered front end takes the experience to the next level. Think of it as a “Just Dance” for handwashing. Follow along with on-screen prompts, get instant feedback, and earn points for each perfectly executed move. At the end, you’ll see where you shine and where you need to improve. By turning handwashing into a game, we make it more than a chore—we make it an achievement. 🏆🕺

Why Just Wash Matters 🤔

Handwashing isn’t glamorous, but it’s a first-line defense against illness. Yet, so many people get it wrong. Just Wash doesn’t just tell people to wash their hands—it shows them how and why. By making the process fun, interactive, and data-driven, we’re helping everyone—from students to professionals—build better habits. The cleaner our hands, the healthier our communities. 🌍💖

What We Learned While Building Just Wash 📚💡

The Pi Struggle is Real 🥧🔧

Running a real-time AI pipeline on a Raspberry Pi taught us patience (and humility). Troubleshooting hardware remotely during a hackathon meant countless SSH sessions and creative workarounds. By the end, we were Pi pros. 👨‍💻🤝

No Free Food = Hanger-Fueled Coding 🍕❌

Hackathons without free food are like code without comments—doable, but painful. Between debugging sessions, we took shifts hunting down snacks. Pro tip: next time, pack snacks or stock the vending machines. 🍫🛠️

Teamwork Makes the Steam Work 💻⚡

When everything is against you—time limits, hardware glitches, empty stomachs—you learn to rely on your team. We grew stronger as a group, and our shared perseverance turned Just Wash into something we’re genuinely proud of. 💪🤝

Wrapping it Up 🎁

Just Wash isn’t just a project; it’s a movement to make hygiene fun, engaging, and effective. By blending computer vision, UV magic, and a touch of friendly competition, we’ve created something that makes people actually want to wash their hands. At the end of the day, when a little soap and a lot of tech come together, everyone wins. 🧼🎉