A hurricane seen from space
The Genius Project · Teens
Activity One

The Hurricane Melissa App Challenge

Every team builds its own version of the same app: Melissa Relief Connector, a mobile-friendly tool that helps people affected by Hurricane Melissa work out what support they need and connects them with the right help.

Shared brief Build sprint 2-minute demo Judged out of 100
Photo: NASA via Unsplash
Safety first. Melissa Relief Connector is a coordination tool, not an emergency service. Every prototype must warn users that life-threatening emergencies go to official emergency services, and that all matches require human verification.
The app

Melissa Relief Connector

A mobile-friendly application that helps people affected by Hurricane Melissa identify what support they need and connects them with appropriate assistance.

The app should help a user

  • Select whether they are requesting help or offering help.
  • Enter their general location.
  • Select the type of assistance needed or available.
  • Indicate the level of urgency.
  • Receive a recommended next step or suggested match.
  • See an emergency warning not to rely on the app for life-threatening situations.
  • Submit information for human verification.

Suggested assistance categories

Required

Required app features

Each prototype must include all of these.

Stretch

Stretch features

Teams that finish early may add any of these.

Mini lesson

Seven questions before building an AI app

Before opening the app builder, every team must answer these.

Core lesson

A polished interface is not proof that an application works. Teams are assessed on usefulness, reasoning and safety, not only appearance.

Complete this first

Melissa Relief Connector: AI App Canvas

Every group must complete this canvas before building. Type your answers, then Send to the AI Boss so your facilitator can see them and you can reopen them on any device. Enter your team name first, and use the same name to reload your work.

Not saved yet
Teamwork

Build-sprint roles

Assign these roles. For teams of three, the presenter may also serve as product lead. Only the builder operates the development tool, and the builder cannot add a feature until another member explains why it is necessary.

Copy into your app builder

Suggested app-building prompt

A starting prompt for your development platform. Adapt it to your team's decisions on the canvas.

Create a mobile-friendly prototype called "Melissa Relief Connector."
The application helps people affected by Hurricane Melissa request assistance and helps volunteers or organisations offer support.
Include:
- A home screen with "Request Help" and "Offer Help" options.
- A form for general location, assistance category, urgency, number of people and a short description.
- Assistance categories for food, water, shelter, medical support, clothing, transportation, electricity, clean-up and building materials.
- A results screen that recommends a next step.
- A priority flag for urgent cases.
- A confirmation reference number.
- A privacy notice.
- A warning that life-threatening emergencies must be directed to official emergency services.
- A message explaining that all matches require human verification.
- A clean, simple interface that can be used easily on a phone.
Do not display private contact information publicly. Do not describe unverified matches as confirmed assistance.
Two minutes

Presentation format

Each team has about two minutes and must demonstrate:

  • The user and the problem.
  • The information the app collects.
  • One working user journey.
  • The AI or decision logic.
  • One risk and its safeguard.
  • One improvement they would make with more time.
Out of 100

Judging criteria

CriterionPoints