Inspiration
One classic event at DeerHacks is the touching grass and as part of that we wondered how we could discover something interesting while outside. We were inspired to make an app that lets the user learn more about the biodiversity where they live so we decided to make a DiscoverDex (not at all related to a pokedex) which lets you track and learn more about animals in your local area.
What it does
Users can either upload their own image or use the builtin animal libraries. We use an image recognition model in the backend to identify the animal in the image and then generate a true fact about that animal along with false ones. The user can use what they know or can infer to determine the true fact. We also have another mode where you are given a series of true facts and have to determine the correct animal based on those facts.
How we built it
We build DiscoverDex using a combination of frontend and backend technologies. The frontend is built using HTML, CSS, Javascript. The backend is powered by expressJS and custom API calls to OpenAI and Wikipedia for animal classification and education fact generation. Additionally, the API also generates sets of real and false facts to quiz the user on their knowledge of the animal they provided.
What's next for DiscoverDex
We plan to introduce user authentication, allowing users to create accounts, log in, and save their progress. This will enable a more personalized experience, where users can keep track of their discoveries, revisit past identifications, and compete with friends. Implementing secure authentication will also allow us to sync user data across multiple devices, making DiscoverDex more accessible anytime, anywhere.
Unique DiscoverDex for Each User – Instead of a shared database, each user will have their own personalized DiscoverDex, where they can collect animals they've identified. This feature will include:
- Custom Entries – Users can add notes or observations about the animals they discover.
- Progress Tracking – A dashboard showing how many unique animals they’ve identified.
- Favorites & Collections – Users can organize their animals into custom categories (e.g., "Backyard Wildlife," "Rare Sightings").
Leaderboard & Community Features – Users will be able to compare their DiscoverDex collections with friends or a global leaderboard, fostering a fun and competitive way to explore biodiversity.
Cloud Storage for DiscoverDex – With authentication, we plan to store user data securely in the cloud, allowing users to access their collection from any device. This will also enable backup and recovery options, so users never lose their progress.
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