Meet the global students solving local problems with code
Posted by Erica Hanson, Developer Student Clubs Program Manager,
Google
Google Developer Student
Clubs
(DSC) are university based community groups for students who are interested in
Google’s developer technologies. Each year, Google puts a call out to the entire DSC global
community, asking students to answer one simple question: Can you solve a local problem in
your community by building with Google’s technologies?
This event is known as the DSC Solution Challenge and this year’s winners went above and
beyond to answer the call - so much so that we couldn’t just pick one winner, we chose 10.
While we initially thought we were the ones sending out the challenge, these young developers
instead flipped the script back on us. Through their innovative designs and uncompromised
creative spirit, they’ve pushed our team here at Google to stretch our thinking about how
developers can build a more hopeful future.
With this, we’re welcoming these passionate students and anyone interested to the virtual
Solution Challenge Demo Day on August 26th, where the students will present their winning
ideas in detail.
Ahead of the event, learn more about this incredible group of thinkers and their solutions
below.
1. FreeSpeak - Technical University of Munich, Germany
Maria Pospelova, Wei Wen Qing, and Almo Gunadya Sutedjo developed FreeSpeak, a
software that uses modern machine learning and video/audio analyzing tools by leveraging
TensorFlow and Google Cloud’s Natural Language to analyze presentations and give individual
feedback and tips as a “virtual coach.”
“We’ve loved connecting with talented people from around the
world and exchanging ideas with them. We see that we can provide impact not only to our local
neighborhood, but also around the world and help people. This motivates us to work a lot
harder.”
2. CoronaAI - University of California Berkeley, United States
Anushka Purohit, Anupam Tiwari, and Neel Desai created CoronaAI, a TensorFlow based
technology that helps examine COVID-19 data. Specifically, the device is made up of a band
worn around a patient's chest that uses electrodes to extract real-time images of the lungs.
From here, the band connects to a monitor that allows doctors to examine patients in real time
without being near them.
“We're honestly huge fans of the Google Cloud Platform because
of its simplicity, familiarity, and the large number of resources available. Developing this
project was the best learning experience.”
3. Worthy Walk - National University of Computer & Emerging Sciences,
Pakistan
Syed Moazzam Maqsood, Krinza Momin, Muhammad Ahmed Gul, and Hussain Zuhair built
Worthy Walk
: an Android and iOS app
that provides its users a platform to achieve health goals by walking, running, or cycling. To
encourage users, Worthy Walk provides an inbuilt currency called Knubs that can be redeemed as
discounts from local businesses, shops, and startups.
“Being a part of DSC means friendship - sharing knowledge and
resources - all while developing a social infrastructure that gives people the power to build
a global community that works for all of us.”
4. Simhae : Deep sea of mind - Soonchunhyang University, South Korea
Yuna Kim, Young hoon Jo, Jeong yoon Joo, and Sangbeom Hwang created Simhae, a
platform created with Flutter and Google Cloud that allows users to access basic information
and activities to inspire them to attend self-help gatherings run by suicide prevention
centers. They believe that this experience is an important point that can lead to solidarity
of suicide survivors.
“It's so nice to have a chance to meet more diverse people.
Through these communities, I can make up for my shortcomings and share more information with
those who have different experiences than me - all while developing my own
potential.”
5. Emergency Response Assistance - University of Education, Winneba (College of
Technology Kumasi), Ghana
Elvis Antwi Sarfo, Yaw Barnieh Anane, Ampomah Ata Acheampong Prince, and Perditha
Abena Acheampong constructed Emergency Response Assistance, an Android application to help
health authorities post the latest first aid steps to educate the public and also help the
victims report emergency cases with a click of a button. The Emergency Response team will also
be able to track the exact location of the victims on the map.
“DSC is not just a community, it’s an inspiration. It’s
outstanding how the platform has brought all of these students, lecturers, and teaching
assistants, who are all so passionate about using tech to solve problems,
together.”
6. Tulibot - Politeknik Elektronika Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia
Muhammad Alan Nur, Pravasta Caraka Bramastagiri, Eva Rahmadanti, and Namira Rizqi
Annisa created Tulibot: an integrated assistive technology, built with the Google Speech API,
that’s made to bridge communication between deaf people and society. The group made two main
devices, Smart Glasses and Smart Gloves. Smart Glasses help with communication for the hearing
impaired by showing real time answers directly on the glasses from its interlocutors. Smart
Gloves transcribe gesture input into audio output by implementing gesture to text
technology.
“This has been an amazing opportunity for us because with this
challenge, we can learn many things like coding, management, business, and more. The special
materials we can get directly from Google is so helpful.”
7. Picare - The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology, Hong
Kong
Sze Yuk Yin, Kwok Ue Nam, Ng Chi Ting, Chong Cheuk Hei, and Silver Ng developed
Picare, a healthcare matching platform built with Flutter and Google Machine Learning to help
elderly people in Hong Kong. Users will be able to use the app to research, schedule, and pay
caregivers directly through the app.
“Our community hosted several workshops ranging from design
thinking to coding techniques. This boosted our development by introducing us to various
state-of-the-art technologies, such as Machine Learning and Cloud computing, which helped us
reach our development goals.”
8. Shareapy - Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Vietnam
Vo Ngoc Khanh Linh, Tran Lam Bao Khang, Nguyen Dang Huy, and Nguyen Thanh Nhan built
Shareapy: a digitized support group app created with Android that helps bring people together
who share similar problems regardless of their age, gender, religion, financial status, etc.
After conducting an extremely rigorous user testing phase, this team had the chance to see all
that TensorFlow and Firebase could do.
“My team loves Firebase so much. One of our team members now
uses it to help do some of his homework problems.”
9. Capstone - Midlands State University, Zimbabwe
Victor Chinyavada, Marvellous Humphery Chirunga, and Lavender Zandile Tshuma started
Capstone, a service hosted on the Google Cloud Platform that aims to combat plagiarism among
students, authors, and researchers. In particular, the technology aims to develop more
effective algorithms that will incorporate the latest in big data, artificial intelligence,
and data mining. As a team, the group bonded over applying technologies from Google to their
project, but their real takeaway was working together to solve problems.
“To submit our project on time, we started all night
hackathons, which helped us finish all of our work while having fun and getting to know each
other better.”
10. MiCamp - Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, India
Praveen Agrawal built MiCamp, an Android app that holds all the info students from
his campus need. Features include a calendar with upcoming campus events, student profiles, a
used book marketplace, hostel management, online food ordering, and more. As a team of one,
Praveen needed to speed up his development, so he applied his new knowledge of Flutter to
finish.
“I’d heard of technologies like Flutter, but never used them
until joining DSC; they inspired us to use those technologies, which really improved my
solution.”
________________________
Want to learn more about Developer Student Clubs? Join a club near you,
here
and stay tuned for
our upcoming virtual Solution Challenge Demo Day on August 26th,
here
.