APPLES

APPLES Reflection

Our client, Urvi Patel, was looking for a way she could apply her skills to help people and solve their problems. She noticed that many individuals in minority communities, such as many Native American communities, suffered from the effects of damaged skin caused by UV radiation. She noticed that the people in these communities had trouble finding the proper sunscreen for their skin type, as many companies do not market sunscreen towards people with darker skin complexions. Urvi had the idea to create an application that could find the proper sunscreen for anyone's skin type. Now, through Comp 523, we are collaborating with Urvi to bring this vision to life with an application called “SPFMatch.”

During our time working on this project and collaborating with Urvi on SPFMatch, we have learned a tremendous amount about the importance of sunscreen products and the barriers that people have to finding the right products for their skin. The American Cancer Society estimates that there are over 10,000 deaths per year that are the result of UV radiation damage. Our goal is to create a solution to protect people’s skin and prevent them from developing skin conditions, whether it is on a local scale or something larger. A few important points that we have in reaching this goal is to ensure that our application is easy to access, intuitive, and that it provides the user with the best possible skincare products for them.

In developing SPFMatch, we have learned many skills that aren’t just technical. We have improved our networking skills, team collaboration skills, and project planning skills. Throughout our development, we’ve always kept the end-user at the forefront of our vision. With every feature that we plan and develop, we ask ourselves “How will this impact and benefit the end user?” We are not just developing a software solution, we are creating a tool for people to positively impact their lives and, in turn, make a positive impact on the world.