Novi: an app designed to make cities more accessible
Novi is an app designed to improve urban mobility for wheelchair users. It offers accessible routes and alerts users to obstacles in real time. Users can also contribute by reporting accessibility issues. An SOS function enhances safety in emergencies. The project aims to make cities more inclusive through technology.
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Novi: an app designed to make cities more accessible
In a world where technological innovation is increasingly shaping our daily lives, some projects stand out for their real social impact. One of these is Novi, an application developed by alumni of the Fullstack Software Engineering program at Holberton France. Designed to improve urban mobility, Novi is part of an inclusive approach aimed at making city travel easier for wheelchair users.
A tool dedicated to accessibility
The main goal of Novi is to make urban movement simpler, safer, and better adapted for people with reduced mobility. Through a clear, fast, and intuitive mobile interface, the app helps users anticipate obstacles and choose routes that are truly accessible.
Among its key features, Novi provides real-time visualization of hard-to-access areas, allowing users to avoid unexpected barriers. It also enables users to compare the shortest route with a more accessible alternative designed to bypass reported obstacles. The app includes step-by-step navigation tailored to wheelchair users, ensuring smoother and safer journeys.
A strong community-driven approach lies at the heart of the project: users can report obstacles within seconds, contributing to a collaborative database. These reports can then be confirmed or rejected by others, ensuring reliable and up-to-date information. An automatic expiration system also removes outdated alerts to maintain data accuracy.
Finally, Novi includes an emergency SOS feature that allows users to quickly contact emergency services or a trusted person when needed, further enhancing safety.
A complete technical achievement
To bring Novi to life, its creators used several key modern development technologies. The application is built with Dart and Flutter, enabling a smooth, high-performance, and cross-platform mobile interface. The backend was developed using Python, handling data management, user reports, and real-time updates.
This technical stack allowed the team to build a robust, responsive, and scalable application, delivering a seamless user experience while managing dynamic and constantly evolving data.
Conclusion
Novi is a strong example of how technology can be used to promote inclusion and improve everyday life. By addressing a real-world need with a practical and collaborative solution, the project highlights the potential of student-led innovation in creating more accessible cities.
This project was developed by Leo Favorel, Sarah Wacquiez, and Christophe Saniez-Lenthieul, whose work and vision deserve recognition.
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