MVP iOS application to gamify recycling in Atlanta

Pet Pals targets university students and aims to incentivise recycling through a virtual pet known as a Pet Pal.

I worked with Georgia State University to research how to use technology to shift behavioral actions and habits in college students.

The application utilizes a virtual pet that has a depleting characteristics as time goes by. These characteristics include hunger and attention. Users have to go to registered recycling bins on the university campus to scan a QR code in order for their pet to receive 1 of 3 health points (food, care, or love) in order to keep their virtual pet happy.

Utilized Technology:

• Google Maps API
• Firebase
• QR technology

…to create branching features to integrate gamification techniques into recycling behaviors.

Takeaway:

This was my first big coding project. I was still taking introduction courses at this time. Tackling on an impactful project like Pet Pals was daunting to me.

However, I took the challenge head on. It was the most I’ve ever learned on a single project. I was in charge of setting up the entire app from scratch. In the 6 months that I was there, I self-taugh myself Swift, iOS application development, and basic UI/UX research and techniques.

Special thank you to my project mentor: Dr. Awad Mussa