FairNote | Devpost

Inspiration

For many students, navigating a career fair can be overwhelming. With numerous recruiters and limited time, students often struggle to engage effectively, remember key conversations, and follow up. Our goal with FairNote is to address these challenges head-on.

What it does

Our app offers voice recording (the conversation between the student and the recruiter), automatic summarization, and a follow-up message generator.

How we built it

Initially, our team decided to develop two pages: a login page and a press recording page. Adam created wireframes for these pages using Figma. Leveraging her experience with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, Haley developed the pages into a web-based application. Manikanta focused on creating an API that processed the audio files generated by the web app to produce a summary card and a follow-up email template. Umar worked on building an Android app through Kotlin.

Challenges we ran into

Forming the team was a significant challenge. Once we assembled, it took some time to settle on an idea. After deciding, we faced a steep learning curve. Initially, we wrote Swift code to develop an iOS app, but we encountered issues as Swift code couldn't run on Windows, and our Mac laptops were not updated to the latest macOS version. We then shifted to building an Android app, which had basic functionalities but couldn't connect to our API. Ultimately, a web-based app proved to be the most viable solution. This project was a learning experience for all of us, as we had to familiarize ourselves with various languages such as Kotlin, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and the deployment of an API using a Python script.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

Our journey began with the formidable challenge of assembling a cohesive team and agreeing on a project idea. Once united, we faced a steep learning curve that tested our resilience and adaptability. We initially ventured into developing an iOS app using Swift, only to be thwarted by compatibility issues with our outdated Mac laptops and the limitations of running Swift on Windows. Undeterred, we pivoted to creating an Android app, which, despite having basic functionalities, couldn’t connect to our API. In a dramatic turn of events, we found our stride with a web-based application. This solution not only met our needs but also pushed us to master a diverse set of technologies, including Kotlin, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python for API deployment. Our perseverance paid off, transforming obstacles into opportunities for growth and learning. Ultimately, we triumphed with a fully functional web-based app, a testament to our determination and collaborative spirit. This project showcased our ability to overcome significant challenges and emerge stronger, more skilled, and ready for future endeavors.

What we learned

Bringing the team together and agreeing on an idea was challenging but essential. We had to learn new technologies and programming languages, which was tough but rewarding. We faced issues with developing iOS and Android apps due to compatibility and connection problems. We adapted by shifting to a web-based app, which worked best for us. We gained experience in Kotlin, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Python for API deployment. Despite obstacles, we kept going and successfully created a functional web-based app.

What's next for FairNote

Interactive Map of the Career Fair: The app features an interactive map highlighting recruiter booths based on the student's preferences, background, and interests. This feature not only aids in navigation but also helps students efficiently plan their time at the fair. Personalized Recommendations: By analyzing students’ backgrounds and career aspirations, the app recommends specific recruiters and companies to visit. It would also display brief information about each company, allowing the student to show genuine interest in the company to the recruiter, demonstrating that they came prepared and did their research.