As a Local Media sponsor of the Silicon Harlem and Harlem Week Hackathon 2015 on Saturday, August 8th, Harlem World Magazine asked the First, Second and Third place winners 10 questions about their winning App.
The First Place Team
Here are the responses of the first place team members Jeremiah Graves, Shantell Dasilva and Joshua Graves as they answer questions about their Pay Metro app.
Harlem World Magazine: Who came up with the idea for the Pay Metro app or was it a group idea?
First Place Team: The creation of the app was a group idea and effort.
HW: What would be the best way to use the app in Harlem?
FPT: The best way to use this app in Harlem is paying for the bus on your phone so you don’t have to go all the way to a train station to get money.
Where is the best place to use the app?
FPT: The best place to use this app is on the bus and on the train.
HW: When did you realize the app might be a winner?
FPT: We realized that our app might be the winner because we focused on the problems city folk might have in places like New York.
HW: Why do you feel the app won?
FPT: We feel like the app won because we really thought through how the app would be portrayed.
HW: Is there another app like it around?
FPT: No, we actually looked it up to see if this type of app existed already, and there wasn’t anything like the app we made.
HW: How did you create the app?
FPT: We created the app by thinking of problems that generally happen to people in New York City. We went through a couple things, at first. Then, we made a list of everything, and we voted mostly for the PayMetro idea.
HW: What advice would you give a youth who want to follow in your footsteps?
FPT: The advice we would give youth who want to follow in our footsteps is, start with something precise through which you want to change the community, and then become broad so you can possibly change the world.
HW: What’s your favorite website?
FPT: Our favorite website (we have to say) is Google.com because it’s a website where you can basically look up the whole world from your desktop, to the palm of your hand.
HW: What is your favorite place in Harlem?
FPT: Our favorite place in Harlem is Bethel Gospel Assembly church, located on 120th and Madison. Jeremiah and Joshua attend the church, and it’s important in their relationship with Jesus Christ.
The Second Place Team
Enjoy the responses of second place team members Adanna Carter, Giancarlo Galvez, Kalani Quinones and Djassi Julien they answer questions about their Health Hacks app.
Harlem World Magazine: Who came up with the idea for the Health Hacks app or was it a group idea?
Second Place Team: Adanna came up with the idea of making our app a game, and Djassi came up with the idea of aiming the app at teens with mental health issues. Kalani suggested that the team incorporate safety tips related to health and offer details on resources that can provide help.
HW: What would be the best way to use the app in Harlem?
SPT: It would be best if guidance counselors or psychiatrists in Harlem recommended our app to teens facing mental health issues.
HW: Where is the best place to use the app?
SPT: The best place to use the app is anywhere where you feel safe and can focus at least a little.
HW: When did you realize the app might be a winner?
SPT: When it sunk in that the app could really help teens feel more comfortable and less stressed, we realized that our app could win.
HW: Why do you feel the app won?
SPT: We think that our app won because it was a creative approach to a prevalent problem that our generation faces, and because our pitch communicated our vision well.
HW: Is there another app like it around?
SPT: There is no app like HealthHacks around.
HW: How did you create the app?
SPT: We didn’t actually build the app yet, but we used keynote to build wireframes of the app. If we were to develop it, we would use a programming language called C to make our app.
HW: What advice would you give a youth who wants to follow in your footsteps?
SPT: We suggest going to hackathons like Harlem Week to meet talented people and to discover what you’re passionate about.
HW: What’s your favorite website?
SPT: Our favorite website is instagram.com because the design is very simple, streamlined and appealing.
HW: What is your favorite place in Harlem?
SPT: Our favorite place in Harlem’s African Square (at 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.,) because sometimes these drummers play around there and it always sounds amazing. There are also a lot of great places to eat around there.
The Third Place Team
Third place team members Brayan Lozano, Eva Salustino and Dante Campbell answer questions about their Grocer app.
Harlem World Magazine: Who came up with the idea for the Grocer app or was it a group idea?
Third Place Team: The original idea of finding places that sold ethnic ingredients and getting them delivered was Eva’s, based on personal experience. However, Brayan and Dante really added more to it, such as the recipe forum and the partnership with Postmates, making it much more useful for the customer.
HW: What would be the best way to use the app in Harlem?
TPT: The best way to use the app in Harlem is to have its residents register their local grocery stores as well as add family recipes. Harlem is such an ethnically diverse neighborhood, with inhabitants with African, Caribbean and Latin American roots. The app would be a way to get in touch with these cultures and learn more about them.
HW: Where is the best place to use the app?
TPT: The beauty of this app is that it can be used while at home or walking down the street, deciding which subway to take. If you want to pick up some Sukiyaki ingredients before heading home, you can do that. If somebody is coming over, and you need to cook something special but don’t have time or energy to go out, have it delivered.
HW: When did you realize the app might be a winner?
TPT: We really had confidence in our project since its inception. We think that we did a good job thinking about the user experience, and we also did well in our presentation. We got positive feedback from audience members after our pitch, so that also gave us encouragement.
HW: Why do you feel the app won?
TPT: We felt the app won because of the simplicity and originality of our app idea, as well as our execution of the presentation. We really planned out and learned about what our product was and why it was relevant, making us believe and feel pride in our product.
HW: Is there another app like it around?
TPT: Postmates and Grubhub. However, we differ by not only being a grocery delivery system, but also a social network for ethnic food recipes and map locator of locally owned shops.
HW: How did you create the app?
TPT: At the hackathon, we were prompted to create an app that would improve community relations. We thought that this idea would improve cultural interaction between the many ethnic and national groups that exist within Harlem. We planned the entire user experience, from the login page, to how they would input a recipe or search.
HW: What advice would you give a youth who wants to follow in your footsteps?
TPT: Our advice is just to start learning. Learn the languages, research about programs in your area extensively. You need to be proactive and make your own opportunities. Say yes to events. Sign up for these opportunities like lottery tickets, just in case you might win, but not expecting to win.
Also, for app ideas, think about things that matter to you, problems or routines you live with every day. It doesn’t need to be a solution to a gigantic problem like world hunger, but just any problem: losing MetroCards, finding a nearby hospital, etc.
HW: What’s your favorite website?
TPT: Youtube.com. We love how it has become a place for everything. Tutorial videos, comedy skits, product reviews, educational videos. We use it all the time.
HW: What is your favorite place in Harlem?
We love Adam Clayton Powell Jr, square (at 125th Street and Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd.,). The monument is beautiful and inspirational. Also, many cultural events happen there, as seen during Harlem Week, making it a place of meeting for both Harlem residents as well as people who have never been there.
Prepare your son or daughter for the Silicon Harlem and Harlem Week Hackathon 2016 now contact Silicon Harlem.
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