CAMDN

Executive Summary

CAMDN is a project for HACC 2024 aimed at creating a "Community App to Meet Digital Navigators." This app connects Hawaii residents with low internet or digital literacy to Community Digital Navigators (CDNs) in partnership with the Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS). CAMDN supports the expansion of the existing Digital Navigator program across the state, empowering communities with limited access to technology.

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Mission

Facilitate scalable, community-focused connections between residents and Digital Navigators through an accessible and easy-to-use platform.

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Key Features

• Resources & Locations:
  • Display participating libraries and community centers.
  • Highlight walk-in sessions and neighborhood-based events.
• Appointment Scheduling:
  • Schedule shared-use devices for users without personal devices.
  • Enable access to self-paced learning resources.
• Support for Individuals Without Internet Access.
• Activity Reporting:
  • Collect data demonstrating program impact and user demographics.
  • Identify needs across populations defined by federal guidelines.

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Target User Groups

• Low-income individuals
• Kupuna (seniors)
• Incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals
• Veterans
• People with disabilities
• Individuals with limited English proficiency
• Rural residents

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Technical Requirements

1. Cross-platform support (desktop and mobile) with web accessibility.
2. Profile Creation: Optional account creation with secure PII handling.
3. Lightweight Design: Optimized for slow connections and low-powered devices.
4. Sustainable Maintenance: Should be manageable without high-cost contractors.

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Design Considerations

• User Experience for Low Literacy Users:

  • A robust logged-out experience to display relevant resources on the landing page.
  • Account creation required only when scheduling reservations.

• Geolocation API:

  • Uses browser Geolocation API to surface nearby locations, libraries, or community centers.

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User Roles

• Site Admin:

  • Full administrative control over users and resources.

• Program Admin:

  • Likely a Hawaii state employee managing library and resource scheduling.

• Community Digital Navigator (CDN):

  • Volunteers offering assistance and advertising their availability to Program Admins.

• Service End User:

  • Community members with limited internet access or digital literacy.

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Data Model Entities

• Facilities:
  Locations such as libraries or community centers created by Program Admins.

• Workstations:
  Attached to a facility and available for reservation by Service End Users.

• Group Events:
  Offline group sessions listed for logged-out users but require login to RSVP.

• CDN Events:
  Events initiated by Digital Navigators, subject to Program Admin approval.

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Technical Approach

• Architecture:
  Classic three-layer MVC architecture to ensure maintainability and simplicity.

• Frontend:

  • Built with VueJS for a responsive web experience.
  • CSS media queries ensure seamless mobile and desktop usability.
  • Browser Geolocation API for resource filtering.

• Backend:

  • Python-based backend using FastAPI for the web API.
  • GeoPandas for GIS functionality.
  • Psycopg2 for PostgreSQL database communication.

• Database:
  PostgreSQL with PostGIS for geospatial queries. Supabase will be used during the prototyping phase.

• Scaling Strategy:

  • Stateless web services for horizontal scaling.
  • Read replicas may be used if necessary due to the app’s read-heavy nature.

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Resources & Links

• Hawaii Public Libraries:
  Directory of libraries across the Hawaiian Islands.

• GeoLocator API:
  API to retrieve user location (via GPS, Wi-Fi networks, cell towers, or IP address).

• PostGIS:
  PostgreSQL extension for managing and querying location data.

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