Civic Tech

Our Project

We created our design ‘ConnectBloom’ to solve the disconnected community here in Bloomington, Indiana. Parth and I are both college students here at Indiana University, and when creating our idea, we thought about problems here in Bloomington that need to be solved. After sending out multiple surveys, conducting interviews, and talking to residents of Bloomington, we saw the conclusion that many people are unsatisfied with the bus systems in Bloomington, the community connection, and the miscommunication of safety alerts and safety concerns. Bus systems are often inaccurate, community events usually go unheard of, and safety concerns are never communicated to the public. After seeing the dissatisfaction with all of these concepts, we decided to create prototypes for our app that include features like advanced bus tracking, a digital community page, and a safety alert feature. Using an app like this will keep students informed, organized, safer, and overall less stressed.

– Nicole Deady (Co-Creator)

Big Points

• Target Audience: ConnectBloom is designed for the community of Bloomington, including students of IU and the residents.
  
• Local Focus: it aims to enhance users' experience by addressing issues like inefficient bus systems, lack of community connection, and ineffective safety communication.
  
• Platform: ConnectBloom is accessible on both iOS and Android devices.
  
• Community Engagement: The app provides a digital community page where users can stay updated on local events, to encourage participation.
  
• Bus Tracking: With advanced bus tracking features, ConnectBloom offers real-time updates on bus locations and schedules.
  
• Safety Alerts: ConnectBloom includes a safety alert feature so users receive timely notifications about safety concerns and emergency situations in their area.