Innovation Design: “Boost”
This would be an open forum app that is set up to give your neighbors a boost. There are plenty of people out there willing to give a helping hand, especially if they know the relationship is reciprocal. If you need help with something, post it on Boost for others within a two mile radius to see. Say that I am stuck on a math problem. I could ask if anybody that has taken MAT 116 could help me out, and one of the hundreds of students also living at the Ave would offer assistance. We could continue to discuss the class anonymously, or choose to meet in person. If you are an old lady who needs your driveway shoveled, post it on boost. Maybe you are lonely and looking for somebody to talk to over coffee, ask boost. Maybe you are just looking for a party to go to, ask boost! Who knows, there could be somebody in your area hoping to find people to attend their party. Perhaps none of your friends want to play kickball with you- that’s okay somebody else in your neighborhood does! You are not alone, Boost will just help you see that. The main concept of Boost is help others so they can help you. We have become a very isolated society, and Boost would help us get back the benefits of living in a supportive community.
Boost does not display profile pictures right away. There should be no pressure to photoshop, or have unconscious bias. Instead, you can chat with a person and get to know them first. Afterwords, if you decide you want to meet up, photos and information would be displayed for safety purposes. For those same reasons, there won’t be any filters or photoshop options available on this app. In addition, there will be no ads. This app is not focused on profit, it aims to help people. Subliminal messaging and unrealistic standards displayed on ads would defeat that purpose. The posts presented on your page would be from people within two miles of you. This feature makes helping more viable, in addition to increasing safety. For use on a college campus, a school email is required so that all students feel safe using Boost. Otherwise, background checks should be required so that no user takes advantage of people in need. As a society we are incredibly lacking meaningful social connections. The group dynamics that Boost utiilizes grants a renewed sense of belonging and cooperation.
Humans in this day and age have the ability to come together and make this app a success. However, we are often too busy with our own problems. We work work work and so every spare minute we spend time in bed relaxing. But with a work-life balance this would be viable. Also, people would need to have good intentions, no evil users.
People would have to go out of their way to help their neighbors. That would cost time, labor, and possibly even money. However, this is not such a burden if you think about the gratitude and warm feeling you receive. It is also important to remember that others would be there for you in return. Solving problems in the community through Boost would make living conditions better for everybody, even if it takes putting a little work in.
You must be logged in to post a comment.