The LiveWell RERC 2020 Student App Challenge for middle school, high school, and college students, as well as non-professional developers concluded with seven winners representing various ages, schools, and app target areas. The Student App Challenge strives to create a fun competition for young developers interested in building apps to be used within the assistive and accessibility spaces. Students were encouraged to consult with clinical specialists and were required to complete a quiz on basic mobile app accessibility.
Winners were selected from a panel of LiveWell RERC collaborations and clinicians. The competition was facilitated by Leighanne Jarvis at Duke University. Aaaaand the winners are!……
Best Overall College App: Handikapp
Developers:
Jen Schlegel,
Anders Sondergaard,
Ryan Williamson, and
Maria Rogers of Be Enabled and Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
Description:
Students currently pursuing intellectual property, therefore description not included.
Best Overall College App Runner Up: Dermatol
Developers:
Nicolas Jimenez,
Ali Ahmad,
Shiva Ganapathy, and
Aakash Bhardwaj of North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC
Description:
Dermatol is a multi-platform app equipped with Artificial Intelligence (AI) algorithms that help recognize and detect possible cancerous areas of the skin. Dermatol scans moles and irregular skin for key characteristics of skin cancer lesions, provides users resources to local physicians, and an overview of different types of skin conditions and cancers. Additionally, the app incorporates accessibility features for blind and deaf individuals.
Additional Information:
You can learn more about Dermatol at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Usiq_6pTGFI&feature=youtu.be
Best Overall High School / Middle School App: Expressions
Developers:
Rebecca Zhu,
Srinath Rangan, and
Sahil Mahendrakar of Nashua High School South, Nashua, NH
Description:
Expressions is an Android app that helps children with autism empathize with others by recognizing emotions and helping them stay calm. Expressions creates a game out of recognizing emotions by allowing users to use the camera to identify different facial expressions. Answers are checked via Microsoft Azure’s Cognitive Services API. The app also helps children with meditation and remaining calm though calming music and animations designed to help a child through breathing exercises.
Best Overall H.S. / M.S. App Runner Up / Best Clinical Relevance: Ability All
Icon for Ability all
Developer:
Stella Kaval, Menlo-Atherton High School, Menlo Park, CA
Description:
Ability All is an Android and iOS app designed to be used by children with Cerebral Palsy to keep track of activities / therapies focused around improving motor skills. Ability All also has parent centered functionality designed to track their child’s progress, create specific activities for their child to complete, and discover activities adapted from other parents of children with CP and healthcare professionals. Ability All also is geared towards teaching children of all abilities the importance of inclusion, realizing the impact they can make in the world, and developing empathy.
Additional Information:
You can learn more about Ability All at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puWrki-D-o4&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR14Q5LQdZpLdOb8R6fMn9OWhvNDn79B8IyEBSBeiejvTOv0cez3nTV1XrA.
Dowload the Ability All App for Android:
Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmail.stellakaval.congressionalappchallenge
Best Accessibility / Honorable Mention: Love To Hear It
Developer:
Neil Kachapilly, Nashua, NH
Description:
Love To Hear It is an Android app targeting older adults with mild cognitive and sensory impairment, with the goal of reducing loneliness. The app helps users through a form of reminiscence therapy that helps people living with mild to severe cognitive impairments remember the people close to them. This is done through recordings of family and friends to be played by the older adult during times of loneliness. To account for accessibility needs of older adults and those with cognitive impairment, Love To Hear It was designed with large text and a simple user interface. The app was also developed to be compatible with screen readers.
Most Innovative / Honorable Mention: PillPal
Developers:
Arya Tschand,
Albert Zou, and
Sai Vedagiri of High Technology High School, Lincroft, NJ, and,
Eli Wambugu of Franklin High School, Somerset, NJ
Description:
PillPal is an iOS app that aims to help drug consumers manage and consume their medication safely and in appropriate amounts. The PillPal app is paired with a companion pill dispenser that allows for doctor-approved pills to be taken at regulated or pre-approved times. While targeted to older adults that forget or are unable to manage their own medication, the app and hardware can be utilized by anyone that may require additional help to ensure safe consumption of medication.
Additional Information:
You can learn more about PillPal at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2Ua_hT5_1I&feature=youtu.be.
Honorable Mention: Mobile Help
Developers:
Edward Cao,
Marvin Zhang, and
Anderson Chiang of Princeton Charter School, Princeton, NJ
Description:
Mobile Help is an Android app designed to help older adults quickly and easily contact caregivers and community service organizations. The app creates a simple user interface that allows for texting and quick navigation assistance. Mobile Help takes into consideration many accessibility features, such as those surrounding hearing, vision, and cognitive impairments.
