## Inspiration:

Living with rare diseases or dealing with serious medical conditions often involves isolation, lack of information, and limited access to expert advice. After doctors prescribe treatments, patients can feel left in the dark without support and insight from others. HealthBridge was born from the need to bridge the gap between patients and reliable, real-time support from both peers and medical professionals. We wanted to create a space where people with medical conditions could easily access not only expert insights but also emotional and practical support from others who are on the same journey.

## What it does:

HealthBridge is an online community where patients prescribed for rare diseases connect directly with peers and doctors. Doctors are the only ones who can invite patients into support groups, ensuring that only verified members join. The platform offers three core features: chat groups based on specific conditions, a tailored news feed featuring relevant medical articles and updates, and a peer-support system that provides both emotional and practical guidance. Doctors can also actively participate, giving personalized feedback while patients also learn from each other, creating a holistic support ecosystem.

## How we built it:

The layout is an intuitive, user-friendly layout that has everything you need in one view. Using modern web development tools like Typescript and CSS, we created a three-part interface: a sidebar for toggling between support groups, a central chat view for conversations, and a right-side tailored newsfeed to provide users with up-to-date current condition-specific information. The backend integrates with healthcare systems to ensure that only patients with a doctor’s invite can join the community.

### Challenges we ran into:

A large challenge was finding ways to integrate the backend into a seamless user experience while maintaining accessibility for patients with varying levels of tech literacy. Creating complex queries to scrape for news feeds or ensuring real-time communication were initially difficult to implement together. Another major challenge was ensuring the privacy and security of users’ medical data, which would require strict encryption and compliance measures.

### Accomplishments that we're proud of:

We are particularly proud of how we've integrated multiple feeds and user experiences into one platform. By creating chat rooms, news discussions, doctor insights, and different support group pages, we are fostering an environment where patients receive timely, accurate medical advice alongside peer support. Additionally, we’re proud of our newsfeed algorithm, which continuously learns from users’ upvotes and downvotes to curate the most relevant medical content for each patient.

### What we learned:

Firstly, we learned how to be much more efficient in our software development process. There were many new tools and mentors we gained along the way. But more importantly, throughout this process, we also learned the importance of empathy in building a platform for patients with rare diseases. We recognize the importance of fostering a sense of belonging and trust in such a delicate community. Engaging both patients and doctors in the same space helps close the gap in patient care and improves outcomes through collaboration.

## What's next for HealthBridge:

We’re excited to expand HealthBridge to cover more rare diseases and conditions, or perhaps mental health conditions eventually. Our future plans include integrating machine learning to provide even more personalized support and exploring partnerships with healthcare providers to scale the platform. We also plan to introduce more interactive features, such as expert Q&A sessions and virtual patient-doctor consultations to further enhance the platform’s value.
## Inspiration

We've all left a doctor's office feeling more confused than when we arrived. This common experience highlights a critical issue: over 80% of Americans say access to their complete health records is crucial, yet 63% lack their medical history and vaccination records since birth. Recognizing this gap, we developed our app to empower patients with real-time transcriptions of doctor visits, easy access to health records, and instant answers from our AI doctor avatar. Our goal is to ensure EVERYONE has the tools to manage their health confidently and effectively.

## What it does

Our app provides real-time transcription of doctor visits, easy access to personal health records, and an AI doctor for instant follow-up questions, empowering patients to manage their health effectively.

## How we built it

We used Node.js, Next.js, webRTC, React, Figma, Spline, Firebase, Gemini, Deepgram.

## Challenges we ran into

One of the primary challenges we faced was navigating the extensive documentation associated with new technologies. Learning to implement these tools effectively required us to read closely and understand how to integrate them in unique ways to ensure seamless functionality within our website. Balancing these complexities while maintaining a cohesive user experience tested our problem-solving skills and adaptability. Along the way, we struggled with Git and debugging.

## Accomplishments that we're proud of

Our proudest achievement is developing the AI avatar, as there was very little documentation available on how to build it. This project required us to navigate through various coding languages and integrate the demo effectively, which presented significant challenges. Overcoming these obstacles not only showcased our technical skills but also demonstrated our determination and creativity in bringing a unique feature to life within our application.

## What we learned

We learned the importance of breaking problems down into smaller, manageable pieces to construct something big and impactful. This approach not only made complex challenges more approachable but also fostered collaboration and innovation within our team. By focusing on individual components, we were able to create a cohesive and effective solution that truly enhances patient care. Also, learned a valuable lesson on the importance of sleep!

## What's next for MedicAI

With the AI medical industry projected to exceed $188 billion, we plan to scale our website to accommodate a growing number of users. Our next steps include partnering with hospitals to enhance patient access to our services, ensuring that individuals can seamlessly utilize our platform during their healthcare journey. By expanding our reach, we aim to empower more patients with the tools they need to manage their health effectively.
## Inspiration

The failure of a certain project using Leap Motion API motivated us to learn it and use it successfully this time.

## What it does

Our hack records a motion password desired by the user. Then, when the user wishes to open the safe, they repeat the hand motion that is then analyzed and compared to the set password. If it passes the analysis check, the safe unlocks.

## How we built it

We built a cardboard model of our safe and motion input devices using Leap Motion and Arduino technology. To create the lock, we utilized Arduino stepper motors.

## Challenges we ran into

Learning the Leap Motion API and debugging was the toughest challenge to our group. Hot glue dangers and complications also impeded our progress.

## Accomplishments that we're proud of

All of our hardware and software worked to some degree of success. However, we recognize that there is room for improvement and if given the chance to develop this further, we would take it.

## What we learned

Leap Motion API is more difficult than expected and communicating with python programs and Arduino programs is simpler than expected.

## What's next for Toaster Secure

-Wireless Connections
-Sturdier Building Materials
-User-friendly interface