The UNH-InterOperability Lab kicked off 2019 with the Hack New Hampshire event for college students. The teams consisted of three to four students in all majors; from the College of Engineering and Physical Science to the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics. The goal for the 24 hour Hackathon was to create and execute an idea to make the state of New Hampshire safer or more sustainable. The students came up with ideas from implementing a “walking-buddy” system on college campuses to innovating an online platform that makes it easier to find local volunteer opportunities. The winning team of the $1,200 cash prize created a technology oriented around salt toxicity in our ecosystems. Their project, Eco Salt, was an automated system that targeted the salt spreading during winter months on roads that contaminate plants and wells. Their automated system alerts drivers when entering low salt areas within 200 feet of water. This invention tackles the two major issues of safety and sustainability in New Hampshire. By monitoring the toxicity of high chlorine levels in our ecosystems, it notifies salt trucks as well as drivers to be cautious in low salt areas.
The invention that won most creative was CertiForce, the application built around personalized recommendations. Another team organized an online database that would hold users accountable for achieving their goals through a currency based system. Another application created was based off of the UNH organized “Trash to Treasure” sale that promotes recycling used furniture in order to make the Earth more sustainable. This group created a non-profit site that is college campus centered and allows students and faculty to buy and sell thrift materials. This system not only resolves waste reduction but it addresses other safety issues as well. Another project dissected the dining hall menu. Their app filtered dietary restrictions and ingredients using HTML data parsing via Python Library to allow students to select their meals before entering the dining halls. This allows students to pick healthier options when eating at campus dining halls and gives them insight as to what they are putting in their bodies. See full list of projects below.
Overall, the 2019 Hack New Hampshire was a success. Participants got the chance to collaborate and work hands on with students from other majors and create innovative projects that helped the state of New Hampshire become a safer and more sustainable place. The teams took advantage of issues surrounding college campuses as well as crucial environmental problems. We are excited to have kicked off this annual event and look forward to watch it grow in the next couple of years.
Team Projects:
PAFT Finders | Noah Fitter, Eric Smath, Spencer Janelle, Rachael Martinez
- Tackles the issue of safety on college campuses (walking home alone at night)
- The application takes your location and asks where you are heading
- Using location services (Google Map API) it tracks out the path to take in order to get home
- If deviate from path it will text user an alert. If you do not override/answer the text the application will then automatically call your set emergency contact
- Controls the issue of safety on college campuses
ProVibe | Shayan Amani, Choa Chi Cheng, Jia Lin Hau, Sai Lekyang
- Provibe is an emoji indecisive decision making computer vision
- Uses AI and facial recognition the app records expression after an experience and updates satisfaction levels
- The application will then save these personal experience reviews in order to filter down bars, restaurants, etc. that would then be suggested to you
- Based on a rate system
CertiForce | Colin Small, Dylan Wheeler, Nick Stuart, Andrew Porter
- This application is a B-corp certification that will help make companies more sustainable
- Companies will achieve B-status by adding ease to the certification for companies who want to adopt their practices
- How it works:
- Using the Turbo Tax model
Meal Maker | Spencer Couture, Dan Kirichok, Jessica Lemere
- These group of students created an app that incorporates meal prepping with the UNH dining halls.
- This website allows students and faculty to filter diet restrictions with the UNH menu
- How it works:
- Students will choose a dining hall, meal (lunch), and then check off the necessary dietary restrictions
- The app will then generate meal suggestions on what you could eat for that day
- HTML data parsing
- This application solves the issue of sustainability by helping dining halls be less wasteful due to cooking unnecessary purchases
MJ | Madison Jaquith, Morgan Jaquith
- Supplies residents with information about community outreach and local volunteer opportunities
- Organizations are also able to add events to sites about volunteer opportunities that are being offered
Envelope | David Macca, Caleb Peffer, Tim Ziadeh, Nick Scamara, Travis Canfield
- A goal oriented currency system
- The user deposits money into an envelope through the application (gets transferred into an escrow account)
- The user sets goals for themselves (i.e. carpool to work, do volunteer work, go to the gym)
- If goal is not achieved the money is sent to a charity
- Through use of credit card or PayPal
Umarket | Lakshmi Ankapur, Jaeboem Lim, Jennah Landgraf, Harrison Geissler
- Solves the issue of waste reduction as well as safety
- A non-profit application that allows college students and faculty to buy and sell their used furniture
- College campus oriented
- Reduces the risk of getting scammed on the Internet or having to meet with a complete stranger
603 Recycling | Medhini Narayan, Shania Robinson, Julia Vieria
- This application tells users how to cost/environmentally dispose of ewaste.
- Also used as an educational tool
- Offers options to compost with local farms, the app also partners with e-recyclers
UShield | Aishwarya Prakash, Emily Handy, Timothy Clocksin
- Free app that implements a ‘walking buddy’ system on college campuses. Each user will have a profile
- Safety escorts
- Examples: RA, Police Officers, Volunteers with Training
- How it works:
- The app includes an SOS button as well as video/audio recordings
Eco Salt | Jessica Nelson, Matt Lemire, Arsalan Khan, Matthew DiBiase
- Measures the salt toxicity and high chlorine levels in our ecosystems and wells
- Created an automated system that alerts drivers when entering low salt areas
- Through use of Google Maps API and Water API
- New Hampshire low salt requirements are within 200ft of water
- Notifies drivers as well as salt trucks