Energy is the future. More and more, that future relies on community efforts toward sustainability, and often, the best form of accountability occurs within peer networks. That's why we built SolarTrack, a energy tracker app that allows Birksun users to connect and collaborate with like-minded members of their community.

In our app, the user profile reflects lifetime energy generated using Birksun, as well as a point conversion system that allows for the future development of gameified rewards. We also have a community map, where you can find a heatmap that describes where people generate the most energy using Birksun bags. In the future, this community map would also include nearby events and gatherings. Finally, there's the option to find family and friends and compete amongst them to accumulate the most points using Birksun bags.

Here's to building a greener future for wearable tech, one bag at a time!
## Inspiration

**Michael has a problem**. When girls drop their apples, he has a tendency to dispose of them in wastebaskets. He always feels terrible afterward, and only handwritten letters of apology can truly convey how sorry he is. In order to save him time, we decided to automate the process.

## What it does

Dem Write Brothers is a **novel handwriting system** that takes just a few minutes to set up, but can save hours upon hours of time. Once you provide a brief sample of your handwriting, you can enter any message for our device to transcribe. The result will be indistinguishable from your own handwriting, and the device will add **perturbations** so no two letters are the same. Finally, for the ultimate personal feel, you can even write **batch letters** customized for each recipient.

## How we built it

For hardware, we started by cadding our device with Autodesk Inventor. We then laser cut and assembled the acrylic pieces for our device's framework. The wiring of our Dragonboard and Arduino devices rounded out this process.
Simultaneously, web app development started with user interface planning. The key components of the app, such as handwriting sampling, were then written using JavaScript. Finally, the web app was put together using many languages and services. Python and C were also used to program the Dragonboard and Arduino devices.

## Challenges we ran into

The moving parts of our device often caused us great headache. For instance, when some of the laser cut acrylic pieces experienced too much friction to slide past each other, we had to buy and apply WD-40. Some of the arduinos we used also died mid-testing.
On the software side, the usual missing end brackets were frustrating but easily solved. More nuanced, then, was the issue of UX. We wanted Dem Write Brothers to be simple and quickly learnable for all users, so our web app went through numerous redesigns.

## Accomplishments that we're proud of

Despite the electronic and mechanical difficulties of hardware assembly, our machine functions elegantly, according to design. After all, **it looks pretty dang slick**. In contrast to the complexities of the hardware and software, our user interface is minimalist and **retro**. It turns a computationally and physically complex device into something useable by anyone.

## What we learned

The importance of sleep cannot be overstressed. Unlike PennApps XVI, during which we slept about 4 hours each and rushed to complete our hack, we each slept a reasonably healthy amount and submitted our hack on DevPost early. We also worked together closely, so that each member of our team was involved throughout the whole process. These were valuable lessons that supplemented the many hardware and programming skills we honed throughout the hackathon.

## What's next for Dem Write Brothers

Though Dem Write Brothers was designed to help Michael with his apology letters, we're proud of its many potential applications. **Companies large and small** will be able to establish a more personal connection with their customers. **Politicians** will be able to reach out to their constituents; perhaps even political apathy and low voter turnout can be curbed. And for **everyday people**, writing heartfelt letters will no longer be a chore. We're looking forward to sharing our idea with the world, but in the meantime, Michael will be hogging Dem Write Brothers for a while.
**Inspiration**
Inspiration came from the growing concern about environmental sustainability and waste management. We were particularly struck by the amount of waste generated by single-use packaging and products from large corporations like PepsiCo. We wanted to find a way to inspire people to think creatively about trash, turning it into something valuable rather than discarding it. The idea of upcycling aligns perfectly with this goal, turning what would be waste into treasures with a new purpose.

**What it does**
TrashToTreasure is a sustainable showcase platform where users can upload pictures of PepsiCo packaging waste and receive creative upcycling ideas from our AI assistant, Gemini. After transforming the waste into something useful or artistic, users can upload pictures of their upcycled products. The community can then vote on the best upcycling transformations, encouraging both creativity and sustainable practices.

**How we built it**
We built TrashToTreasure using a combination of modern web technologies. The frontend is built with React, and we used Next.js for server-side rendering. We integrated Gemini, an AI assistant, to process user-submitted images and suggest upcycling ideas. The backend is powered by a NodeJS application with a MongoDB database, where we store user data, images, and voting information. We also incorporated voting functionality to allow users to rate upcycled creations. Images are processed using a combination of cloud storage and base64 encoding to facilitate smooth uploads and rendering.

**Challenges we ran into**
One of the biggest challenges was developing a seamless image processing pipeline, where users can upload pictures of their trash and upcycled items without losing quality or causing performance issues. Another challenge was training Gemini to suggest useful and creative upcycling ideas based on a wide range of packaging materials. Prompting was an important must here!

**Accomplishments that we're proud of**
For all but one, it's our first hackathon! We’re proud of creating a platform that promotes environmental sustainability and community engagement. We successfully integrated an AI that can provide,creative upcycling ideas, encouraging people to think outside the box when it comes to waste. Additionally, building a voting mechanism that allows the community to participate and celebrate the best ideas is something we’re really love.

**What we learned**
We learned the importance of seamless user experience, especially when dealing with images and voting mechanisms. Things can get complicated, and that's when users start leaving your page. We also deepened our understanding of AI-driven suggestion systems and how to fine-tune them for specific use cases like upcycling. Working with sustainability-focused applications taught us how small actions, like reimagining trash, can have a larger impact on both individuals and the environment.

What's next for TrashToTreasure - Sustainable Showcase
Moving forward, we want to expand the platform by integrating with other companies' packaging waste, not just PepsiCo’s. We plan to enhance Gemini's AI capabilities to suggest even more creative ideas and work on building a larger community where people can share, learn, and inspire others to upcycle. We’re also considering introducing challenges or competitions where users can win rewards for the most innovative upcycled creations, further incentivizing sustainability. Maybe a Pepsi Jet!