Space Apps Challenge 2017

We designed a mobile, tablet and smartwatch app that protects you from the sun and is accessible to everyone.

The Problem

Everyone knows the rays of the sun are dangerous. But how dangerous are they really? Here are some stats from the World Health Organization website:

• Prolonged human exposure to solar UV radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects on the skin, eye and immune system.
• Over 65,000 cases of skin cancer were reported in 1999
• The number of skin cancer cases has more than doubled since the early 80s

It is now understandable that there are real data supporting the claims that prolonged exposure to the sun is dangerous.

Therefore, it is important to provide solutions.

Our solution

We wanted to design something which is really doable, and accessible to the majority of the population.

Target Group:

People who are visiting the beach, or spend a lot of hours under the sun.

The app:

The app we designed will work on mobile phones, tablets and smartwatches.

Here is the way it works, briefly:

1. We ask some data about you. More specifically, your age, your skin type and color, and your gender. These data are needed further on, for calculations.
2. We provide some data about your location (using the GPS of your device), such as wind speed, chance of rain etc.
3. You click on "start sunbathing" and we ask you if you applied sunscreen or not.
4. An elapsed timer starts for you, and we do some calculations now. We calculate your location, the day and time of the year, the cloud cover of the area you are in, your skin type and color, your age, gender and the SPF of your sunscreen.
5. Through calculations, we provide an estimate time withing which you will be safe under the sun. When this time is over, we alert you (with sound also) that it's time for you to apply more sunscreen (or go to the shade!).
6. This way, you are sure that you will not get sunburned! The app also provides more useful info in the settings section, such as local emergency phones, tips, and your statistics.

Social Impact

Our app can change the way people are protected from the sun. If you find yourself getting sunburned often, this is the solution for you!

It is easy and low-cost to build and to maintain, and has very simple usage. It could be live and working in a month or so!

We believe it would have a large audience, be especially useful closer to the Mediterranean area where the sun is shining brighter, and remember: You can use it for your own, or for your children's protection!

Resources:

• http://www.who.int/uv/health/en/
• https://www.cancercouncil.com.au/
  
• https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/feb/19/ex...
  
• http://www.sunsafetyalliance.org/dangers_of_uv.htm...
  
• http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uva-and-uvb
  
• http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive...
  
• http://freemusicarchive.org