For this hackathon, we wanted to build a community-focused app and found inspiration through initiatives such as Tuktu, BeMyEyes, and the UBC Safewalk system. We built Project Connect because we wanted to provide social connection for the elderly (or "seniors") who may feel especially isolated during the pandemic. Through our platform, they will be be provided the contact information of other people and "juniors" with similar interests who want to connect with them and keep them company.

Project Connect links people based on interests and communication preferences (snail mail, email, calls etc.) through a simple and accessible interface.

We started with (very) lo-fi user flows and wireframes, and then built a more refined prototype in Figma. The prototype was then translated across into React.

We had some trouble thinking through our idea, so we talked with a mentor on how to plan effectively. Rahul Kumar from Accenture helped us create a game plan by creating a timeline and concept poster link. Since we wanted to learn something new during this hackathon and many of us are first time hackers, we spent a lot of our time going to workshops.

Our tools: Google Drive, Mural, Figma, Visual Studio Code, React, and lots of Javascript tutorials on Youtube

• It was hard to code things and deal with UI elements, especially since most of us are first time hackers! This was also the first time any of us used React.js.
• We started out with a really complex and ambitious idea that had around five different main features ranging from point accumulation for a gamified incentive to a background check to avoid trolling.
• Back-end Development: Despite all of us going to the Cockroach DB workshop, we still had difficulty understanding how to setup the cloud database on our local machines. Setting up on a windows OS required quite some extra requirements that made, so we created a JSON file to represent the profiles on the Project Connect system.

• We went to the React/node.js workshop hosted by Telus, Cockroach DB Workshop, and Hootsuite Q&A
• Continuously asking for help from mentors
• Built our first React App!!
• Getting the JSON array map to show for the profiles :)

The simpler the idea, the better!

• Implement a database that organizes and allows us to store user input
• Connect the database to our user interface