A Space To Speak

A place to hear and be heard in the vastness of our universe.

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Inspiration

Lately, I have noticed that the youths of today have been struggling with mental health firsthand. Additionally, due to the stigma around mental health, it may be hard for these youths to seek help. As such, I came up with this project as an outlet for youths to express their thoughts and feelings without stigma anonymously while connecting with others who would understand them on a deeper level.

What it does

A Space To Speak allows you to send your thoughts among the stars. In doing so, you will be speaking your voice, knowing that others will hear you. You will also be able to see other people's thoughts that they post, affirming that you are not alone in this wide, wide world. For those without many to turn to, it allows an outlet where they can truly be heard.

How we built it

Android Studio was used for the frontend android application and Firebase was used for the backend.

Challenges we ran into

  • This was my first ever Hackathon
  • I worked as a solo hacker
  • I had to learn firebase from scratch
  • 3-4 hours were spent fighting with the wifi and my computer to download the IDE

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Getting a (somwhat) functional prototype out by the deadline
  • Learning so much about android development and Firebase
  • Making something that spanned over multiple frameworks for the first time
  • Making a project that carries more meaning behind it

What we learned

I learned so much these past 24 hours, from Firebase authentification to Android Studio animations, it's hard to list all of them with the impending deadline. I learned about GitHub Copilot from the workshop in the evening. The most crucial thing I think I learned is just about the process that goes into planning, designing, and implementing a project from scratch, which has definitely given me a broader understanding of what it means to be a hacker overall.

What's next for A Space to Speak

  • Implement as an IOS app
  • Click on messages to read them more slowly
  • Connect people with appropriate help resources and people who can lend a hand
  • Ambient sounds in the background
  • More visual design
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