Inspiration
Our motivation to create PaperPing stemmed from a common challenge faced by several of our team members who were researchers: the difficulty in tracking and staying updated with the newest research pertinent to their projects.
What it does
PaperPing is a digital platform designed for both commercial and academic researchers to streamline their research endeavors. By continuously monitoring the web for the freshest research articles tailored to a user's specific interests, PaperPing ensures users are instantly notified upon the release of relevant content. This not only keeps them abreast of the latest developments in their domain but also eliminates the need for repetitive and time-consuming tasks. The end result? Researchers can channel more of their focus and energy into addressing society's most critical questions, paving the way for a brighter, more innovative future.
How we built it
The user interface was crafted using Flutter, which communicates with an API hosted locally via ngrok. This API was developed using Python, underpinned by the Django framework. For searches, we integrated with the Metaphor's API, and for dispatching notifications, we employed Twilio.
Challenges we ran into
The intricacies of the backend proved to be more challenging than our initial estimates, as well as attempting to run our backend via localhost.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
In an effort to make the most of our learning experience at PennApps, each team member undertook a role they were unfamiliar with, all the while benefiting from the expertise of their peers.
What we learned
Our journey shed light on the intricacies of commercial and academic research and its advantages and drawbacks. We also realized that handling vast databases can introduce complexities to seemingly straightforward ideas.
What's next for PaperPing
Our vision for PaperPing is to evolve it into a comprehensive toolkit that amplifies a researcher's efficiency and reduces their stress. One potential addition? A feature that simplifies complex research papers, making them more accessible to both newcomers and seasoned professionals in the field.
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