Home Page
Map
Laws and Updates
Take Action
Chat Bot

Inspiration

Given current events, finding access to women's healthcare has never been more important. That’s why we wanted to create a comprehensive informational guide to increase accessibility for women in our community, especially given the harsh laws and restrictions in our state of Indiana.

What it does

HerAccess is a website designed to connect women to healthcare resources and up-to-date legal information. The site features a home page that serves as a central hub, linking users to essential resources. One key feature is an interactive map powered by Carto Positron, which shows nearby healthcare providers. The website also includes a laws and updates page that provides real-time legal and healthcare information, updated automatically through web scraping using Cheerio.

Additionally, there is a take action page where users can find links to petitions and advocacy opportunities to support women’s healthcare rights. The website features a caring and respectful chatbot powered by GROQ, which allows users to interact via text or voice. This chatbot helps users find resources, make plans, and reduce stress. For added privacy, we implemented a “Panic Mode” escape button that instantly redirects users to a random Google query.

How we built it

We built HerAccess using React for the website components and PostgreSQL to manage the database. The chatbot is powered by GROQ and leverages the LLaMA and Whisper functionalities for both text and voice interactions. For the map, we used Carto Positron to provide an interactive and accurate visualization of healthcare facilities. The real-time updates on the laws and updates page were made possible through web scraping with Cheerio. Lastly, we designed calming and visually appealing graphics using Canva, ensuring that the website is both functional and welcoming.

Challenges we ran into

Web scraping presented significant challenges. It was difficult to ensure that the data we collected was credible and up-to-date. Some websites even blocked our scraping attempts due to high-volume requests, which forced us to balance the amount of data being processed to prevent server or port crashes.

We also initially implemented an AI feature to create personalized news reports. However, we found that the AI occasionally pulled data from unreliable sources, leading to inaccuracies. To prioritize credibility, we ultimately decided to remove this feature.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We’re proud of successfully integrating GROQ's chatbot with Whisper functionality, creating a supportive and user-friendly experience. We also implemented a “Panic Mode” feature for added privacy, allowing users to quickly exit the site. Overcoming the challenges of web scraping to provide real-time updates on laws was another major achievement. Lastly, we’re especially proud of the calming and visually appealing design that enhances the user experience.

What we learned

Throughout this project, we deepened our knowledge of GROQ, React, and PostgreSQL. We also improved our skills in designing user-friendly interfaces, implementing web scraping, and balancing data volume effectively to maintain website performance.

What's next for HerAccess

In the future, we plan to expand our coverage of healthcare locations beyond Illinois and Indiana to include other states across the nation. We also aim to enhance our web scraping capabilities to cover more comprehensive and accurate legal updates. Additionally, we plan to further develop the chatbot to provide even more personalized guidance and support for users.